MORRISTOWN, N.J. — A commissioner reported Thursday that a PFAS settlement with manufacturer 3M negotiated by the State of New Jersey could limit the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority’s (MCMUA) ability to seek reimbursement from class-action or settlement funds for remediation work.

The official said the settlement appears likely to restrict the MCMUA’s ability to participate in future reimbursements that the authority had expected. The transcript records the comment as a report to the board; no specifics of the settlement text or legal interpretation were supplied during the work session.

Separately, the county reported that the MCMUA and New Jersey American Water Company are finalizing a design and contract to bring water to the Mount Olive transfer station. County staff also said MCMUA has worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong issues and that this year Mount Olive compost site will accept lake weed for recycling; county officials said this will be the last year the MCMUA facilities assist with the lake-weed recycling effort.

Why it matters: PFAS remediation has budgetary implications for utilities and municipalities; settlement terms can affect who can seek cost recovery. The water-transfer design and lake-weed acceptance affect local waste-management and water-supply operations.

Decisions and next steps: The transcript records informational reporting; no formal motions or votes were recorded on these items during the work session.

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