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CHARLESTON - A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Washington, W.Va., residents who say their property was contaminated by hazardous materials - including forever chemicals - from a landfill used by Chemours.
Filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, the complaint alleges that hazardous chemicals including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, were released from the landfill and migrated through surrounding soil, groundwater and other pathways, according to a release from R. Booth Goodwin II, one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs Jason Goff and Aimee Cross.
PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they take so long to break down in the environment. The best known is C8, also called peflurooctanoic acid or PFOA, which was used for years in the Teflon-manufacturing process at the Washington Works plant. Chemours owns the Washington Works facility after it was spun off from DuPont, although C8 ceased being used there prior to that time.
A Chemours representative on Friday declined to comment on the pending litigation "out of respect for the legal process.
"What I can say is that we take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are committed to addressing concerns raised by our neighbors and community members," the spokesperson said.
A response has not yet been filed by Chemours.
According to the release, Goff and Cross are Washington-area residents and property owners. The proposed class includes people living on or near South Oak Street, Club Drive, Lake Washington Road and surrounding residential areas, "as well as others whose properties may have been affected by migration from the landfill," it says.
The claim is the result, in part, of materials leaking from the landfill and its treatment system in February 2024, which the complaint attributes to a lack of secondary containment by the filtration container and treatment system. An incident involving runoff and leaching occurred in February 2025 as well, the complaint says, citing records from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Subsequent testing found PFAS and other contamination in soil or water on or near properties belonging to the plaintiffs and proposed class members, the release says.
The leak, leaching and runoff events were discovered after Goff observed men in hazardous material suits in the vicinity of the landfill in November, the complaint says.
The release says the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for "alleged property contamination, diminution in property value, loss of use and enjoyment, investigation and testing expenses, remediation and abatement costs, and other damages." The complaint also seeks medical monitoring; comprehensive soil, water and air testing; remediation and restoration of affected properties; and safe alternative water where necessary.
"The families who call this community home deserve to know their property is safe and that those responsible for any contamination will be held accountable," said Ben Ware, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
Goodwin is one of several attorneys working on the case, including William J. Ihlenfeld II. Both Goodwin and Ihlenfeld previously served as U.S. attorneys, Goodinw for the Southern District of West Virginia, Ihlenfeld for the Northern District.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.