Hermiston may join class action lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’
Hermiston City Council is considering joining a lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS, known as 'forever chemicals', found in drinking water.Summary
The Hermiston City Council will vote on April 13th on a resolution to participate in a class action lawsuit concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.” These chemicals have been detected in public drinking water systems nationwide, originating from sources like industrial discharges and firefighting foams. The law firm Stag, Liuzza LLC has offered to represent the city in litigation against PFAS manufacturers. PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in various products due to their resistance to heat, oil, and water, but they persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.
The lawsuit focuses on Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF), a fire suppressant used at airports, military bases, and industrial facilities, which contains these toxic chemicals. The city may qualify to join existing product liability litigation involving AFFF.
In addition to the PFAS lawsuit, the council will also consider awarding a contract for the Geer/Harper/First Place intersection realignment project, aimed at improving traffic flow and safety. This project involves reconfiguring the intersections and will likely require a year-long closure of the railroad crossing.
(Source：Hermiston Herald)