the chemical giant 3M will pay almost half a billion dollars to New Jersey to make up for its contribution to toxic forever chemical pollution tainting drinking water around the Garden State State officials announced a $450 million settlement with the company this morning It's the largest single settlement related to clean water in New Jersey history The state had sued 3M along with other chemical companies for widespread pollution of PAS chemicals that have been used in all sorts of consumer goods and industrial products The chemicals are known to be harmful to human health including links to birth defects and cancer The 3M settlement will go toward cleaning up PAS from New Jerseyy's environment and for restoring damaged natural resources in Salem County near the old Chambers Works facility a chemical plant with a long history of PAS use The state previously settled similar claims with another chemical company Salve but a trial over pollution tied to the company's DuPant and Kors remains on track to begin next week We find PAS everywhere in the state of New Jersey leeching from landfills and even in the soils of distant remote New Jersey forests that should be pristine We didn't ask for this but we surely will hold those who have created this pollution accountable [Music]