TRENTON REPORT
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette announced on June 28 a proposed settlement with Solvay Specialty Polymers USA that would ensure the remediation of contamination, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and compensate the public for natural resource damages in the vicinity of Solvay’s facility in West Deptford, Gloucester County. PFAS has been proven to cause development defects in children and pregnant women, liver and kidney problems, and even tumors.
The first of its kind to address PFAS contamination in New Jersey, the proposed settlement provides financial commitments of nearly $393 million, including commitments by Solvay to:
- Pay for and implement comprehensive remedial activities at and in the vicinity of its West Deptford facility,
- Provide financial support for certain public water system upgrades necessary to remove PFAS from drinking water, which will be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),
- Further investigate and address certain PFAS impacts to public water systems and private potable drinking water wells in the vicinity, and,
- Compensate the public for natural resources injured by the discharge of hazardous substances.
“New Jersey’s proposed settlement is a step in the right direction. It is critical that we hold polluters like Solvay accountable for their environmental mess. For decades, West Deptford and surrounding areas have been exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals in the air, groundwater, and drinking water. This settlement doesn’t provide any compensation or support for people who have already been exposed to PFAS and other chemicals from the West Deptford site, but it will prevent future harm, said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, director of the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club.