The Australian Commonwealth government has commenced legal action against 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) and its local arm, asking the Federal Court to award in excess of A$2 billion - roughly US$1.43 billion - to cover costs tied to contamination linked to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the lawsuit, lodged in the Federal Court, represents the largest claim the Commonwealth has ever brought. The legal action is focused on contamination at 28 defence sites across Australia, according to the government statement.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals noted for their persistence in the environment. The government cited concerns that these substances do not readily break down and have been connected to environmental and health risks. The chemicals were widely used in aqueous film-forming foam - often abbreviated as AFFF - which was deployed at military bases and airports.
In its filing, the government alleges that 3M withheld information about the environmental impacts of its firefighting foam products. The Commonwealth further contends that the company misrepresented those products as biodegradable and safe for disposal, assertions the government disputes in bringing this claim.
Canberra said taxpayers have already borne substantial costs responding to the contamination, with more than A$1 billion spent on investigating, containing and remediating PFAS at affected sites. The lawsuit seeks to recover such cleanup and related expenditures from 3M and its subsidiary.
The government clarified that the current proceedings are limited in scope to environmental cleanup and associated costs and do not include personal injury claims by individuals.
The legal action will proceed through the Federal Court process. The filing marks a significant step by the Commonwealth to seek recompense for public expenditures tied to PFAS contamination at defence-related locations.