Lake Mary commissioners are set to talk Thursday night about whether the city should remain part of four pending settlements in the national lawsuits over PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, WKMG News 6 reported.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
The litigation
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are long-lasting synthetic chemicals used in products from nonstick pans to the foam used to fight fuel fires. Hundreds of lawsuits alleging that firefighting foam known as AFFF contaminated water around military installations, airports and firefighter training grounds have been consolidated in a multidistrict case in federal court in South Carolina.
According to WKMG, every public drinking water supplier in the country, Lake Mary included, is swept into that case automatically unless it formally withdraws. Lake Mary has received notice of proposed settlements with four of the 29 companies being sued: Amerex, Archroma U.S., Carrier Global and Nation Ford Chemical. The city has until Dec. 22 to decide whether to stay in or opt out.
Lake Mary's staff and city attorney favor staying in, the station reported, because opting out and pursuing a separate claim would likely mean long delays and significant cost.
