PRESS RELEASE
March 20, 2023
CONTACT: Ken Sansone
Partner, SL Environmental Law Group PC
175 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 348-8300
San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority files lawsuit against DuPont, 3M, others to recover costs of cleaning up PFAS from local groundwater.
A San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA) legal team consisting of five law firms from around the country filed a lawsuit on March 17 against DuPont, 3M and other companies in U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, seeking to recover the costs of cleaning up hazardous contaminants known as PFAS (Per-and Polyfluorinated Substances) from the Main San Gabriel Basin.
The WQA lawsuit becomes one of hundreds of similar lawsuits filed by cities, states, water agencies and others in the last several years. It alleges the defendants knowingly contaminated drinking water over a period of years in the Basin (and across the country) as a result of the manufacture and use of a group of more than 4,000 synthetic harmful chemical compounds, collectively known as PFAS.
“We are taking this action so that San Gabriel Valley residents are not burdened with the additional cost of the PFAS cleanup,” said WQA Board Chairman Mark Paulson. “The WQA remains committed to holding those responsible for the contamination accountable. The WQA will continue to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for the residents of the San Gabriel Valley.”
PFAS, considered “forever” chemicals because they remain in the environment, were compounds produced mainly by the 3M and DuPont companies and used by them and a variety of other manufacturers to produce everything from Teflon for pots and pans to Scotchgard for fabric protection.
“Our agency is responsible for overseeing the cleanup and restoration of the groundwater Basin,” said WQA Executive Director Randy Schoellerman. “The Basin has been impacted by PFAS detected in numerous wells requiring the construction of additional treatment systems. Ongoing remediation costs associated with the PFAS contamination will continue for decades. It is part of our mission to pursue responsible parties for those costs.”ABOUT SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY
Created in 1992 by the state legislature to facilitate and coordinate among various agencies the cleanup of the San Gabriel Basin, the WQA is led by a 7-member board of directors consisting of city and water industry leaders across the San Gabriel Valley. Find additional information at www.wqa.com.
The WQA lawsuit becomes one of hundreds of similar lawsuits filed by cities, states, water agencies and others in the last several years. It alleges the defendants knowingly contaminated drinking water over a period of years in the Basin (and across the country) as a result of the manufacture and use of a group of more than 4,000 synthetic harmful chemical compounds, collectively known as PFAS.
“We are taking this action so that San Gabriel Valley residents are not burdened with the additional cost of the PFAS cleanup,” said WQA Board Chairman Mark Paulson. “The WQA remains committed to holding those responsible for the contamination accountable. The WQA will continue to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for the residents of the San Gabriel Valley.”
PFAS, considered “forever” chemicals because they remain in the environment, were compounds produced mainly by the 3M and DuPont companies and used by them and a variety of other manufacturers to produce everything from Teflon for pots and pans to Scotchgard for fabric protection.
“Our agency is responsible for overseeing the cleanup and restoration of the groundwater Basin,” said WQA Executive Director Randy Schoellerman. “The Basin has been impacted by PFAS detected in numerous wells requiring the construction of additional treatment systems. Ongoing remediation costs associated with the PFAS contamination will continue for decades. It is part of our mission to pursue responsible parties for those costs.”ABOUT SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY
Created in 1992 by the state legislature to facilitate and coordinate among various agencies the cleanup of the San Gabriel Basin, the WQA is led by a 7-member board of directors consisting of city and water industry leaders across the San Gabriel Valley. Find additional information at www.wqa.com.
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