A judge in West Virginia has given final approval to a settlement of the $343 million lawsuit between DuPont Co. and residents around its Parkersburg fluoropolymers plant, over allegations of polluting local water supplies.
The Feb. 28 approval from Wood County Circuit Court does not change the terms that were announced in September, when the company and residents agreed on a tentative settlement. DuPont agreed to pay $107.6 million for programs and water-treatment equipment in six surrounding communities.
The agreement also calls for a panel to study whether there is a link between perfluorooctanoic acid, used as a processing aid in making fluoropolymers, and human health.
If a probable link is found, Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont agrees to pay up to another $235 million for additional testing and will not contest causation in lawsuits from residents. If no link is found, any injury claims from local residents will be nullified.
