Ocean County officials are urging the State of New Jersey to reject the current terms of a proposed $450 million settlement with 3M over PFOS and PFOA contamination. They are asking for counties to have direct control over how the funds from this environmental settlement are distributed and used.
The state announced in May 2025 that it had reached a tentative agreement with 3M to address pollution caused by so-called “forever chemicals.” Under the present proposal, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would manage all settlement funds and determine their statewide allocation.
Commissioner Robert S. Arace, speaking on behalf of the Ocean County Board, said local control is necessary to ensure that funding reaches communities most affected by PFAS contamination. “We are seeing a growing PFAS plume moving through our groundwater,” Arace said. “As more municipal wells are affected, our towns are being forced to install costly treatment systems just to protect drinking water. If the settlement funds are held solely by the DEP, our local officials are in the dark and our residents are left waiting.”
He added: “Ocean County’s towns know their systems, their infrastructure, and their residents. They know what remediation is required because they’ve been confronting this issue firsthand. Local leaders must be at the table, not on the sidelines, when these decisions are being made.”
County officials argue that allowing only state-level oversight does not account for different regional needs and may result in funding delays or resources being spread too thinly across areas less impacted by PFAS pollution. They warn that without local involvement, money intended for water quality improvements could get caught up in bureaucracy rather than reaching communities in need.
“When the State holds all the money and all the authority, the result is delay, bureaucracy, and a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t work,” Arace said. “This is about accountability. Local control means local results, cleaner water, faster remediation, and stronger public health protections.”
Frank Sadeghi, Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners stated: “This settlement money should go where the damage has been done, not disappear into layers of state administration. Each county faces unique environmental and infrastructure challenges. Local governments are on the front lines of addressing them every day, and those decisions should be made by the people who know their communities best.”
Officials also highlighted previous models such as opioid settlements where funds were distributed directly to counties and municipalities with positive results regarding transparency and community input.
“Counties have demonstrated their ability to manage settlement funds with integrity,” said Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione. “We have the framework, the oversight, and the community partnerships in place to ensure these dollars make a real difference in protecting our water, our health, and our environment.”
“Our residents should see the benefits of this settlement in their own towns through cleaner water, safer communities, and better health protections,” added Commissioner Virginia E. Haines. “Local control is the only way to guarantee that happens.”
Ocean County wants each county in New Jersey to have direct access to funding for cleanup efforts like remediation projects or upgrades to water treatment facilities as well as programs aimed at protecting public health.
“This is about public trust,” Arace added. “Our towns are already doing the work. They have the expertise, the data, and the urgency. They should also have the authority. Every dollar from this settlement should be visible, traceable, and tied to real environmental improvements right here in Ocean County.”
