DuPont de Nemours Enters $455M PFAS Settlement with North Carolina

What Happened
DuPont de Nemours, together with Chemours and Corteva, entered a Settlement Agreement with the State of North Carolina and multiple local subdivisions on September 9–10, 2026 to resolve PFAS and related emissions claims tied to the Fayetteville Works facility and certain other PFAS matters (including AFFF). The settlement requires aggregate cash payments of $455 million payable over 15 years. DuPont recorded a probable pre-tax loss of about $125 million in discontinued operations in Q2 2026 reflecting the net present value of its share under the parties’ 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), before a potential 44% reimbursement obligation from Qnity Electronics Inc. A press release announcing the settlement was issued on September 10, 2026.

Key Details

• Total settlement amount: $455 million, payable over 15 years.
• $18 million of the settlement is attributed to PFAS contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works; up to $14.4 million (~3% of the total) is attributable to AFFF.
• DuPont recorded a ~ $125 million probable loss (pre-tax, in discontinued operations) in Q2 2026 for its share of the payment, before Qnity’s reimbursement obligation.
• DuPont and Corteva will establish a $135 million Reserve Fund (self-guarantee, surety bond, or similar) per a 2019 Letter Agreement; the fund is accessible only if Chemours fails to perform under its 2019 Consent Order.
• The companies agreed to count this settlement (and eligible future settlements) against the MOU limit at net present value, modeled as equal annual installments over 25 years discounted at 8%. The North Carolina and a prior New Jersey settlement will satisfy future MOU escrow contribution obligations, including the September 2026 escrow payment.

Why It Matters
This resolves a significant series of PFAS claims tied to Fayetteville Works and reduces a key source of litigation uncertainty. For investors, the immediate financial effect on DuPont was a Q2 2026 charge of roughly $125 million (pre-tax) in discontinued operations, while the cash outlay is spread over 15 years and shared among the parties under the existing MOU and related agreements. The $135 million Reserve Fund and the MOU/escrow accounting mechanics limit some near-term cash demands and define how these payments count against the companies’ shared caps, which may affect future contingent liabilities and escrow obligations. The settlement remains subject to court dismissal orders.