Bloomberg Law: Biden’s EPA Expected to Pass Limits on Some ‘Forever Chemicals’ — The EPA under a future Biden administration is expected to quickly move to set regulations on “forever chemicals” in water and other areas, but not to restrict the entire group of thousands of the substances, attorneys said in recent interviews. The incoming administration also could set waste remediation and other limits for some PFAS. As a centrist, Biden is likely to rely on scientific information and insights into how medical and other high-value industries use some of these chemicals in order to determine a strategy for many of the substances.
U.S. News & World Report: New Jersey Sues 3 Firms Over Chemicals in Drinking Water — The state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Environmental Protection sued three companies this week, alleging they have failed to clean up — and in some instances continue to release — chemicals that have polluted public drinking water at opposite ends of the state. New Jersey filed lawsuits against Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC and Arkema Inc., two companies it says are responsible for years of contamination at its West Deptford site. It also sued Honeywell International over contamination involving different substances at the Quanta Resources Superfund site along the Hudson River in Edgewater, Bergen County. Solvay said in a statement that it has been working with the DEP in good faith to address contamination at the site.
Yahoo News: Bayer makes ‘substantial progress’ in Roundup cancer lawsuits, mediator says — A court-appointed mediator on Monday said Bayer AG has made “substantial progress” toward resolving tens of thousands of remaining claims that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. Bayer has said Roundup is safe for human use. It said it has resolved about 88,500 of an estimated 125,000 filed and unfiled claims, and is “fully committed” to settling the litigation. Bayer projected it would pay up to $10.9 billion to resolve Roundup litigation, mostly for existing claims and $1.25 billion for future claims.
Businesswire: Baron & Budd File 87 Additional Suits Against the Chemours Company and Dupont for Groundwater Contamination Near Fayetteville, NC — Attorneys have filed new lawsuits against the Chemours Company and Dupont on behalf of 87 individuals who own property near the Fayetteville Works plant. These lawsuits have been filed as part of a consolidated action where hundreds of similar lawsuits are currently being litigated. According to the lawsuit, Chemours and Dupont have contaminated the groundwater near the Fayetteville Works plant with PFASs, including GenX. The law firm is actively seeking additional signers on to the suit.
Water Policy Report: Industry Likely To Step Up Scrutiny Of States’ PFAS Limits In Next Year — Industry groups are expected to step up scrutiny in the next year of states’ growing efforts to develop enforceable drinking water limits for PFAS, including potentially more court action, given new scientific developments expected to be done on PFAS’ effects. Industry leaders expect much work on the scientific study of the chemicals will occur in 2021 and 2022, with possibly some court actions to dig into the science of states’ drinking water standards and their development.