Red states are coming to the defense of North Carolina’s lawsuit against chemical giant Chemours over “forever chemicals” pollution.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, is seeking compensation for cleanup and sampling of the toxic chemicals produced at Chemours’ sprawling factory in Fayetteville. Chemours argues that Jackson lacks the authority to sue.
But in a “friend of the court” brief Wednesday led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, 10 red states pushed back against Chemours’ claim, urging the court to preserve states’ long-standing authority to seek fines and penalties from companies that harm public resources.
“Especially in light of the profound and extensive harms caused by PFAS contamination in North Carolina and across the United States, this Court should not displace or diminish the power and duty of the state attorney general to protect the public interest,” the brief said. “Those responsible for the contamination must be held to account, not the taxpayers of our states.”
