SouthernWorldwide.com – Australia has initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. conglomerate 3M, seeking over 2 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to $1.4 billion, for contamination caused by “forever chemicals” found in firefighting foam at defense bases.
This legal action represents the Australian government’s largest-ever claim for compensation. The lawsuit targets the presence of per- and polyfluoroaklyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, at 28 defense sites.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that are notoriously persistent, earning them the moniker “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally decompose. Their use is facing increasing global restrictions due to documented adverse health effects.
The suit, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, names both the Minnesota-based 3M Company and its Australian subsidiary, 3M Australia, as defendants.
In response, 3M has stated its intention to contest the claim. The company emphasized that it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased selling the relevant products there approximately two decades ago.
3M further noted that the Australian Department of Defence continued to utilize PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly twenty years after their sales ceased in the country.
PFAS have been integral to various household and industrial products since the 1950s, valued for their resistance to heat, stains, grease, and water. The firefighting foam containing these chemicals proved particularly effective against fuel fires.
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Concerns about PFAS contamination have previously been raised by the Australian military. In 2018, the Australian Defense Department advised residents living near its Richmond Air Base, located outside Sydney, to limit their consumption of locally sourced fish and eggs after PFAS were detected in nearby groundwater.
Australia’s Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, has accused 3M of withholding crucial information regarding the environmental risks associated with the firefighting foam.
“The Commonwealth (of Australia) is seeking more than AU$2 billion ($1.4 billion) in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historic storage and use of this foam,” Rowland stated during a press conference.
Assistant Defense Minister Peter Khalil highlighted the substantial financial commitment already made by his department. He revealed that AU$1.3 billion ($920 million) has been spent on managing and mitigating the environmental consequences of the foam’s use.
Khalil detailed the extensive cleanup efforts, including the removal of 200,000 metric tons (approximately 220,000 U.S. tons) of contaminated soil from various bases. Furthermore, the department has treated an estimated 13 billion liters (about 3.4 billion gallons) of contaminated water.
Quoting Reuters, Khalil described the lawsuit as “the most significant legal action undertaken by Commonwealth and Defence in living memory.” He added, “To put it plainly, we are taking on 3M on behalf of the Australian people and the Australians that are affected.”
