Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, a subsidiary of Solvay S.A., Belgium, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced an agreement resolving certain PFAS-related claims in New Jersey.
"Under the terms of the agreement, Solvay will pay $75 million to NJDEP for Natural Resource Damages (NRDs) and $100 million to fund NJDEP PFAS remediation projects in areas of New Jersey near the company’s West Deptford site," the company said in a statement.
The company will also put aside $214 million to test the soil and water quality around the plant and complete remediation activities.
"Solvay appreciates the collaborative approach taken by NJDEP to reach this agreement, allowing all parties to continue focusing on protecting the environment,” said Ilham Kadri, Solvay CEO. “Consistent with our focus to innovate more sustainable solutions, we transitioned our West Deptford, New Jersey, facility to use non-fluorosurfactants technologies as of July 2021.”
Since 2013, Solvay has been conducting remediation efforts in New Jersey. This includes installing a drinking water treatment system on a municipal well, constructing and operating an offsite pump-and-treat system for impacted groundwater, and enhancing existing onsite treatment systems for impacted groundwater.
“As a result of this settlement, Solvay will increase its current provision by around $250 million at the end of Q2 2023, with $175 million cash out in 2024 and the balance over a 30-year period,” the company shared.
The agreement does not mean Solvay admits it is at fault, the company said, adding that a court still needed to approve the deal later this year.
Solvay is the most recent chemical company to settle over PFAS claims, joining Chemours, DuPont and Corteva, who collectively agreed to offer $1.2 billion to settle claims of PFAS-contaminated drinking water in North Carolina, and 3M, who will pay out $10.3 billion to settle multiple lawsuits.
