Australia & US Legal Actions
Australia: Legal Actions and Cleanup Efforts
Legal Settlements and Ongoing Litigation
• Commonwealth Settlement: In May 2023, the Australian government agreed to a $132.7 million
settlement in a class action involving approximately 30,000 residents affected by PFAS contamination,
primarily from firefighting foams used at RAAF bases. This settlement did not include an admission of
liability .Friends of the Earth Australia+1ABC+1
• 3M Australia Lawsuit: In December 2024, Qenos Olefins initiated a class-action lawsuit against 3M
Australia, alleging that the company sold PFAS-containing products without adequate warnings about their
environmental and health risks .LinkedIn
Regulatory Measures and Cleanup Costs
• Import and Use Ban: Effective from July 1, 2025, Australia will ban the import, use, and manufacture of
certain PFAS compounds, including PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, marking a significant regulatory step .Clayton
Utz• Cleanup Expenses: While specific national figures are limited, the costs for PFAS remediation in Australia
are substantial. For instance, New York State in the U.S. has already spent $100 million on PFAS cleanup
efforts .Reuters________________________________________United States: Legal Actions and Cleanup Costs
Major Settlements and Legal Challenges
• 3M Settlement: In 2023, 3M agreed to a $10.3 billion settlement to address PFAS contamination claims
from various U.S. public water systems .Clayton Utz• Carrier Global Controversy: State attorneys general are contesting a bankruptcy plan that would shield
Carrier Global from PFAS-related liabilities, arguing it unlawfully limits the company's accountability for
contamination caused by its subsidiary, Kidde-Fenwal .Reuters
Regulatory Developments and Financial Implications
• EPA Designation: In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated PFOA and
PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, enabling more robust cleanup and enforcement
actions .US EPA+1Politico+1• Cleanup Cost Estimates: The estimated cost for U.S. water utilities to comply with new PFAS standards is
around $50 billion over the next two decades, with annual expenses of approximately $1.5 billion for
monitoring and treatment .Robeco.com - The investment engineers________________________________________Global Perspective
• European Cleanup Costs: In Europe, the projected cost to address PFAS pollution could exceed £1.6 trillion
over 20 years, highlighting the global scale of the issue .PFAS Free Australia
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