DuPont announced a $455 million settlement to resolve PFAS-related litigation in North Carolina, bringing to a close claims tied to historical discharges from its Fayetteville Works manufacturing facility as well as separate state allegations concerning aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) contamination.
The settlement will be paid in equal annual installments over 15 years and carries an aggregate net present value of approximately $355 million, which will be shared among DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva. DuPont's pre-tax present value portion is estimated at roughly $126 million, with Qnity Electronics agreeing to reimburse 44% of that amount. The company stated the settlement is materially covered by existing accruals.
Of the total settlement, $18 million relates to alleged PFAS contamination that is not connected to the Fayetteville Works facility, while no more than $14.4 million is attributed to AFFF-specific claims. The valuation of the settlements uses an 8% discount rate applied over a 25-year installment framework, consistent with terms established under a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between the companies and the state.
Payments are set to commence within 30 days of execution. The deal resolves claims brought by 11 North Carolina local entities — including Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Robeson, Sampson, and Duplin counties, as well as the Town of Wrightsville Beach, City of Lumberton, Village of Bald Head Island, and the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority — which were previously excluded from the 2024 U.S. public water system class-action settlement involving other parties.
DuPont noted that aggregate contributions under the settlement, including the September 2026 payment, will satisfy escrow obligations tied to the 2021 MOU and exceed any required future escrow deposits. Funds held in the companies' joint escrow account in New Jersey and North Carolina will qualify for withdrawal once the dismissals of the covered litigations are entered by the courts. The settlement remains subject to those procedural closings before it becomes final.
