The town of Wadesboro, North Carolina, has filed a new lawsuit accusing major chemical manufacturers, including 3M, DuPont and Chemours, of contributing to contamination from PFAS-containing firefighting foam used at a local training facility.
The complaint, filed in Anson County Superior Court, alleges that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances were detected in soil at the Wadesboro Firemen’s Training Facility. Specifically, testing identified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), two well-known PFAS compounds often associated with aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, used in firefighting exercises.
According to the town, the defendants manufactured and sold fluorosurfactant-based foams and related products while failing to warn users about the environmental and health risks tied to PFAS. The lawsuit claims the companies concealed information about the persistence and potential toxicity of these chemicals, which are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down in the environment.
Wadesboro contends that the contamination has interfered with the normal use of its fire training facility and reduced the property’s value. The town says it now faces significant costs for environmental investigation, long-term monitoring and remediation of affected soil.
The lawsuit does not seek damages related to drinking water contamination. Town officials state that their claims are limited to impacts at the training site itself. As a result, Wadesboro argues that its case falls outside the scope of prior nationwide PFAS settlements involving companies such as 3M, DuPont, Tyco and BASF, which addressed certain water system claims.
The filing adds to a growing wave of litigation brought by municipalities and state governments across the country over PFAS pollution. In recent months, other North Carolina jurisdictions, including Onslow County, have pursued similar claims. Meanwhile, several states have reached substantial settlements with manufacturers over alleged contamination of water supplies and natural resources.
Wadesboro is seeking damages and other relief to cover cleanup expenses and related losses. Attorneys representing the town include Garry Whitaker Law PC, Baron & Budd PC and Cossich Sumich Parsiola & Taylor LLC.
Counsel for the defendant companies had not publicly responded to the complaint as of Tuesday.
The case is pending in North Carolina state court and is one of many ongoing legal battles nationwide over the environmental legacy of PFAS-based products.
