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Moore County establishes PFAS settlement fund after first 3M payment; board approves spending-tracking ordinance
Summary
County staff reported receipt of the first settlement payment from 3M in a PFAS contamination lawsuit and commissioners approved creating a dedicated PFAS settlement capital project fund (Fund 414) and a budget amendment to transfer the funds for remediation tracking.
Moore County commissioners voted to establish a capital project ordinance and a dedicated fund to track PFAS settlement monies after staff reported the county received a first settlement check from 3M.
Public Works Director Brian Patnode said the county entered litigation over aqueous film‑forming foam contamination and has now received the initial settlement payment; staff recommended creating Fund 414 (PFAS settlement capital project fund) so future receipts and remediation spending can be tracked transparently (SEG 1504–1515). Commissioners approved a motion to establish the project fund and a second motion to transfer the FY‑25 payment into Fund 414 via a budget amendment; both motions passed (SEG 1574–1597).
Patnode said the county is coordinating testing at public schools and focusing initial remediation efforts on Pinehurst wells identified as primary plaintiffs in the litigation. He told commissioners the settlement proceeds could be used for testing, remediation technologies and filtration systems where needed (SEG 1526–1554, SEG 1538–1556).
Why it matters: PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are persistent contaminants associated with certain firefighting foams and industrial sources; settlement funds provide a source of local remediation financing but require careful tracking and prioritized use.
What's next: Staff will track receipts in the new fund, narrow potential treatment sites through testing, and return to the board with proposed remediation expenditures and any needed procurement requests.
Quote: "We received our first settlement check from 3M... This agenda item will establish a PFAS settlement capital project ordinance... so we can track the funding that we have received," Brian Patnode said.
