ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — Wolverine Worldwide and chemical giant 3M have reached a $55 million settlement to a federal lawsuit over PFAS contamination in drinking water in Kent County.
Wolverine sued 3M in December 2018, arguing the Minnesota-based company should also be held responsible for thePFAS, a likely carcinogen also linked to other illnesses, found in hundreds of residential wells around Rockford.
Wolverine accused 3M of neglecting to tell it about environmental risks that 3M’s product, Scotchgard, possessed. Wolverine used Scotchgard to waterproof shoes made at its Rockford tannery. Manufacturing waste dumped in Belmont has been blamed for the tainted water.
Target 8 previously reported that3M warned Wolverine about Scotchgard20 years ago in a letter detailing 3M’s intention to change the product’s formula.
Wolverine also accused 3M of not helping in the aftermath of discovering contamination in West Michigan.
Under the settlement, 3M will give Wolverine a lump sum of $55 million this year to help deal with PFAS in Kent County.
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