Australia has initiated legal proceedings against U.S. conglomerate 3M, seeking more than 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.4 billion) in damages over contamination caused by so-called "forever chemicals" in firefighting foam used at defence bases. The lawsuit, announced on Thursday, represents the government's largest-ever claim for compensation.
Details of the Lawsuit
The claim relates to contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment. The contamination has been identified at 28 defence sites across Australia. The suit was filed in the Federal Court of Minnesota, where 3M is headquartered, against the company and its Australian subsidiary, 3M Australia.
3M's Response
3M has stated it will contest the claim. In a statement, the company noted that it has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products in question in the country approximately two decades ago. However, it pointed out that the Australian Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly 20 years longer.
Background on PFAS
PFAS have been used since the 1950s in various household and industrial products for their resistance to heat, stains, grease, and water. Firefighting foams containing PFAS were particularly effective against fuel fires. The Australian Defence Department warned residents near its Richmond Air Base outside Sydney in 2018 to reduce consumption of locally produced fish and eggs after PFAS was detected in nearby groundwater.
Government Statements
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland accused 3M of withholding information about the environmental risks posed by the foam. "The Commonwealth is seeking more than AU$2 billion in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historic storage and use of this foam," Rowland told reporters. Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil revealed that his department has already spent AU$1.3 billion ($920 million) on managing and mitigating the environmental impact. This includes removing 200,000 metric tons (220,000 U.S. tons) of contaminated earth from bases and treating 13 billion litres (3.4 billion gallons) of contaminated water. "We are prepared to take on powerful corporations when Australians and Australian communities have been impacted," Khalil said.
