New Jersey reached a historic settlement with 3M over PFAS contamination claims. The settlement addresses consumer impacts, penalties, and punitive damages related to PFAS contamination of New Jersey's water supplies and natural resources. A formal notice of the proposed settlement was expected to be published in July. This settlement signals enforcement risk for PFAS manufacturers and users.
New Jersey formally adopted site remediation standards for PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX compounds. These standards establish cleanup requirements for contaminated sites undergoing remediation in New Jersey, providing compliance teams with specific thresholds for these PFAS compounds in site remediation contexts.
NJDEP has formally adopted site remediation standards for four PFAS compounds: PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX (HFPO-DA). These standards establish cleanup requirements for contaminated sites under New Jersey's site remediation program. The adoption creates binding compliance obligations for responsible parties conducting remediation of PFAS-contaminated properties in New Jersey, supplementing existing groundwater and drinking water standards with specific cleanup criteria.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is currently developing Surface Water Quality Standards for PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA to protect human health and aquatic life. This regulatory development expands New Jersey's PFAS regulatory framework beyond existing groundwater standards (N.J.A.C. 7:9C) and drinking water MCLs, establishing ambient water quality criteria for surface waters. Once adopted, these standards will affect NPDES permit holders, industrial dischargers, and entities conducting remediation activities near surface water bodies.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs confirmed that the deadline for fire departments to cease using PFAS-containing firefighting foams has been extended from January 8, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The original legislation (P.L. 2023, c.243) was amended by P.L. 2025, c.266 to provide fire departments additional time to transition to modern PFAS-free alternatives. Fire departments are responsible for completing the transition by the new deadline.
New Jersey extended the compliance deadline for the PFAS-containing Class B firefighting foam ban from January 8, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The state implemented a historic collection and disposal program with over 400 fire departments participating and approximately 150,000 gallons of AFFF expected for collection. The program is funded with $16.6 million in state appropriations, with waste destruction via supercritical water oxidation. Fire departments are responsible for transitioning to fluorine-free alternatives. Updated compliance guidance documents were issued in March 2026, including FAQs on the law, foam policy, and application procedures.
P.L. 2025, c. 266 amended the 2024 law (P.L. 2023, c. 243) restricting PFAS in Class B firefighting foam, extending the transition deadline from January 8, 2026 to January 1, 2027. Fire departments must cease using PFAS-containing Class B firefighting foams by the new deadline. The original law restricted the use, sale, manufacture, and distribution of PFAS-containing Class B firefighting foam in New Jersey.
Senate Committee Substitute for S1281, adopted March 16, 2026, would amend P.L.2025, c.202 (the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act) to add apparel to the list of prohibited products containing intentionally added PFAS. Beginning two years after the effective date, the bill would prohibit the sale, manufacture, and distribution of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS. Apparel is defined to include regular wear clothing, formal clothing, outdoor apparel, and outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions, but excludes personal protective equipment, military clothing, and motorcycle protective apparel.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety, issued updated implementation guidance documents in March 2026 for P.L. 2023, c.243, the state's PFAS firefighting foam ban. The materials include updated guidance on Class B AFFF use, a detailed FAQ explaining the law's requirements, and a procedural policy for foam application. Fire departments across New Jersey must follow these procedures when managing and disposing of PFAS-containing firefighting foam.
New Jersey has established enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Ground Water Quality Standards (GWQS) for three PFAS compounds in drinking water: PFOA (0.014 μg/L), PFOS (0.013 μg/L), and PFNA (0.013 μg/L). The state also has interim Ground Water Quality Criteria for ClPFPECAs (0.002 μg/L), PFPE-DCAs (0.0021 μg/L), and HFPO-DA/GenX (0.02 μg/L). As of March 21, 2025, 105 water systems received at least one NJ PFAS MCL violation, with 82 systems returning to compliance and 33 remaining in violation. NJDEP has issued 110 treatment permits to 82 public water systems.
Assembly Bill 3125, as amended and reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on February 12, 2026, would prohibit the sale or distribution of menstrual products containing intentionally added PFAS. The bill defines menstrual products as those manufactured for catching menstruation and vaginal discharge, including tampons, sanitary pads, discs, menstrual cups, and underwear, covering both disposable and reusable products. Intentionally added PFAS is defined to include PFAS added to provide specific characteristics or perform specific functions.
New Jersey enacted the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act (P.L.2025, c.202), which prohibits intentionally added PFAS in carpets, cosmetics, fabric treatments, and food packaging composed of paper, paperboard, or plant fiber-derived materials, effective January 12, 2028. Cookware with PFAS in handles or food-contact surfaces requires bilingual (English/Spanish) labeling stating 'This product contains PFAS.' The law defines 'intentionally added PFAS' to include PFAS deliberately added for specific characteristics and their degradation byproducts, while excluding technically unavoidable trace quantities from impurities or manufacturing processes. Enforcement is through the Division of Consumer Affairs with civil penalties of $1,000-$20,000 per violation.
The Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act (P.L.2025, c.202), approved January 12, 2026, prohibits intentionally added PFAS in certain products effective January 2028. The Act also requires cookware containing PFAS to carry labeling disclosures. Unlike other state PFAS laws, it does not include registration or reporting requirements and does not establish a framework to exempt currently unavoidable uses of PFAS.
New Jersey enacted legislation (S3946/A5195) establishing PFAS restrictions for firefighting turnout gear. Upon passage, producers must provide written notice to purchasers alerting them of PFAS in their equipment. Two years after the effective date, all turnout gear classified as clothing must be certified "Forever Chemical Free" through testing by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Non-clothing apparatuses including masks and communication technology will be subject to the ban beginning January 1, 2032.
NJDEP released 'Forever No More: New Jersey's Commitment to PFAS Action' outlining the state's comprehensive strategy to address PFAS contamination. The document addresses PFAS impacts on water supplies, landfills, and natural resources including surface waters, soil, wetlands, groundwater, and air. The strategy reflects New Jersey's position as a major birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution with significant legacy contamination challenges from these persistent 'forever chemicals.'
Senate Bill S3946 would require producers of firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS to provide written notice to purchasers informing them that the product contains PFAS. The bill would also prohibit the sale, manufacture, and distribution of firefighting PPE containing intentionally added PFAS. The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reported the bill favorably on June 12, 2025, and the Senate amended it on June 30, 2025.
NJDEP adopted amendments to the Discharges of Petroleum and Other Hazardous Substances (DPHS) Program rules, expanding Appendix A of N.J.A.C. 7:1E to include over 200 PFAS as Hazardous Substances under the NJ Spill Compensation and Control Act. Previously, only PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA were designated as hazardous substances. This expansion triggers reporting, cleanup, and site liability requirements under the Spill Act, ISRA, and CSRR programs. Major facilities storing PFAS must update Discharge Prevention, Containment, and Countermeasure (DPCC) and Discharge Cleanup and Removal (DCR) plans.
New Jersey Attorney General and DEP Commissioner announced a historic settlement of up to $450 million with 3M for statewide PFAS contamination. The settlement resolves liability for the Chambers Works site (Pennsville/Carneys Point), Parlin site (Sayreville), Statewide PFAS Directive, and AFFF litigation. Payment structure includes $275-325 million (2026-2034), $125 million (2035-2050), plus additional funds for legal fees and NJ's leadership in PFAS abatement. Combined with prior DuPont settlements, New Jersey has secured approximately $840 million in corporate commitments for PFAS contamination.
NJDEP proposed ground water quality standards for GenX (hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt), which are six-carbon perfluoroether carboxylates in the PFAS family. GenX has been detected in New Jersey soil and groundwater, including domestic potable wells. The proposed rule establishes interim ground water quality criteria of 0.02 μg/L for HFPO-DA (GenX), 0.002 μg/L for ClPFPECAs, and 0.0021 μg/L for PFPE-DCAs. The rule also addresses interim soil and soil leachate remediation standards for PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX.
NJDEP issued a compliance advisory alerting facilities that nine PFAS added to the federal Toxics Release Inventory on January 3, 2025, pursuant to the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, are now subject to reporting under New Jersey's Community Right to Know (CRTK) Survey, Release and Pollution Prevention Report (RPPR), and Pollution Prevention (P2) Plans. Facilities subject to CRTK and P2 programs must include these newly listed PFAS in their annual reporting.