South Carolina AG Filed Lawsuit against Chemical Companies over Manufacturing Firefighting Foam Containing PFAS

OCTOBER 18, 2023

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson filed a lawsuit against several companies—including 3M, Buckeye Fire Equipment, and DuPont—for polluting the state’s resources by manufacturing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down in the human body and the environment. AFFF is used to fight industrial fires, such as at airports or in military settings. According to the complaint, the companies “knew with substantial certainty that PFAS contained in AFFF would reach onto and contaminate State natural resources and property, including water systems, surface water, groundwater systems, and zones of influence of the areas that supply production wells within the State, [but still] manufactured, marketed, distributed, promoted, and/or sold AFFF products containing PFAS with a profit motive.” The lawsuit sought damages for injury to natural resources and public safety.