MPCA sues 3M again over PFAS in east metro
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sued 3M on May 1 over PFAS contamination tied to the company's Cottage Grove facility in the east metro, seeking tougher cleanup and steep penalties.[1]
State samples cited in the complaint found PFAS as high as 310,000 parts per trillion at some sites, far above Minnesota standards.[1] The state seeks civil penalties up to $30,000 per violation per day and natural-resource damages.[1] It also asks the court for a more aggressive cleanup and alleges 3M failed to meet obligations under a 2022 cleanup order.[1]
3M paid $850 million in a 2018 state settlement over east-metro drinking-water contamination.[1] The company also agreed in 2024 to pay $10.3 billion nationally to address PFAS in drinking-water systems.[1] 3M says some contamination stemmed from firefighting-foam testing for the U.S. military and is asking to move the case to federal court on a government-contractor defense.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- MPCA filed a new PFAS lawsuit against 3M on May 1, targeting groundwater and stormwater contamination tied to the Cottage Grove facility and potential discharges into the Mississippi River.
- State sampling cited in the complaint found PFAS concentrations up to 310,000 parts per trillion at some locations, far above Minnesota standards.
- Minnesota seeks civil penalties of up to $30,000 per violation per day, more aggressive cleanup, and natural‑resource damages, arguing 3M has not met obligations under a 2022 cleanup order.
- 3M is seeking to move the case to federal court, claiming some contamination arose from firefighting foam testing for the U.S. military and that government‑contractor work should shield it from state claims.
- 3M previously paid $850 million in a 2018 state settlement for east‑metro drinking‑water contamination and agreed in 2024 to pay $10.3 billion nationally to address PFAS in drinking‑water systems.
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