"Alabama water pollution lawsuit to proceed after judge rejects motion to dismiss", 15 Feb 2017

A federal lawsuit against 3M and others over chemical pollution of the Tennessee River near Decatur will proceed, after a federal judge denied three motions to dismiss filed by defendants in the case.  The lawsuit...alleges that synthetic chemicals manufactured by 3M at its plant in Decatur have been entering the Tennessee River...and that these chemicals pose a threat to human health and the environment.  The lawsuit...seeks to force 3M, BFI Waste Systems of Alabama, the city of Decatur, Morgan County and other entities to clean up landfills and wastewater treatment plants the plaintiffs say are still releasing those chemicals...In the motions to dismiss, the defendants argued that they were already acting with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to clean up some of the contaminated sites...U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon ruled the case could continue, noting...that whether PFOA and PFOS were hazardous would be the "crux of this dispute."..."We don't mind 3M making profitable products - but, we cannot tolerate the defendants putting profit ahead of the health of people, the environment, and our water."..."3M has always operated in compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations," said...counsel for 3M...[Also refers to DuPont]