Minnesota, 3M reach water pollution settlement
St. Paul Pioneer-PressReporters gathered Tuesdayin Minneapolis to hear Attorney General Lori Swanson announcing a settlement of $850 million in a lawsuit against 3M Co. The Attorney General had filed a $5 billion lawsuit against the company, saying it had damaged the environment with chemicals it manufactured. (Bob Shaw / Pioneer Press)
MINNESOTA, FEB 21, 2018 -- A $5 billion water-pollution lawsuit, which pitted 3M Co. against Minnesota's attorney general, ended on the day it was supposed to go to trial Tuesday. In a surprise settlement, 3M agreed to give $850 million to the state for water quality programs in the east metro.
“This money is dedicated to fixing the problem,” said Attorney General Lori Swanson at a news conference in Minneapolis. “This was hard-fought litigation.”
The money will help remedy water-pollution problems of private well owners and cities — including Cottage Grove, which already spent millions on new city wells. Read more at St. Paul Pioneer-Press