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last mo.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Sues 3M and Others Over PFAS Contamination on Reservation

Tribal testing found PFAS in a school’s water, with contaminated fish and deer also reported, prompting bottled water at the school.

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Overview

  • The federal complaint names 3M, BASF, Chemours, Corteva, DuPont entities, and Tyco Fire Products as defendants.
  • The Band cites 2022 tests detecting PFAS in one school’s water supply, with 2023 fish sampling and 2025 deer liver tests also showing contamination.
  • Alleged sources include AFFF use at upstream sites such as Bemidji Regional Airport, with wastewater said to flow into the reservation.
  • Claims include public nuisance, negligence, product liability, and unjust enrichment, plus MERLA cost recovery against 3M and fraudulent transfer allegations against DuPont entities.
  • The suit seeks funds for testing, cleanup, water replacement, infrastructure, natural resource restoration, and medical monitoring; 3M has not yet commented and has contested causation in related cases.