Farmingdale Village Could Receive $5M In Firefighting Foam Settlement

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale Village on Friday announced its "satisfaction" with the settlements in the Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) multi-district litigation involving 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva, in which it could receive up to $5 million.

The firefighting foam, used to extinguish certain types of fires, contains high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), which are known as "forever chemicals," according to the Lawsuit Information Center. Science has shown that PFAS are "very toxic" to humans, and chronic exposure to the PFAS in the foam have been linked to several cancers.

PFAS are a group of thousands of chemicals used in hundreds of types of products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. PFAS in the environment can enter the food supply through plants and animals grown, raised, or processed in contaminated areas.

The settlements are "extremely helpful" in safeguarding water consumers from PFAS contamination, according to the village.

"We are exceptionally grateful for the diligent efforts of all parties involved, particularly Mayor
Ralph Ekstrand and the Farmingdale Village Board of Trustees, to ensure that the costs related to
the remediation of the contaminated water will be borne by the polluters and not our local
residents," said Paul J. Napoli, lawyer for the Village of Farmingdale, in a news release.

The village could receive up to $5 million from DuPont, Chemours, Corteva and 3M in the initial settlement based on tables provided by the PFAS Settlement Steering Committee, it announced. The funds will be used to treat PFAS contamination and lessen the financial burden on ratepayers.

There are 15 defendants remaining in additional litigation, and the village is working to secure additional settlements. Farmingdale Village was appointed to serve as a leading plaintiff in taking legal action against defendants that don't settle, Napoli said.

The village hopes to secure additional funds to treat the contaminated water through the trial.

"Our resolve to safeguard the health and welfare of our residents remains steadfast," Ekstrand said. "We will explore every legal avenue to seek the compensation necessary to ensure that we are able to provide PFAS-free, clean water to our residents."

The research showing AFFF can cause cancer led to a wave of class-action firefighting foam product liability lawsuits, according to the Lawsuit Information Center. These lawsuits were filed by former firefighters, military personnel, and others diagnosed with cancer after years of regular exposure to AFFF.

The foam has been used for decades to douse dangerous fires, especially those fueled by petroleum.