Read the full article by Brian Lawson (News 19)

“DECATUR, Ala. – Once again a deadline is looming in the ongoing federal lawsuit filed against 3M, Decatur, and Morgan County by the Tennessee Riverkeeper environmental group.

The group alleges PFAS chemicals made by 3M in Decatur have polluted the Tennessee River and wants 3M and the other defendants to be ordered to clean it up.

The lawsuit has a mediation deadline of Sunday, Feb. 28. But that deadline has been extended multiple times previously.

The parties are currently in closed-door negotiations.

3M declined comment Thursday on the status of those negotiations. Decatur officials have previously declined to discuss the ongoing mediation, citing confidentiality requirements.

David Whiteside, founder of Tennessee Riverkeeper, said delays have been frustrating and a cleanup effort is necessary…”