Tuesday, JANUARY 6, 2026 |
Photo – Rawlins Water Treatment Facility – Bigfoot99 file photo
The City of Rawlins will join a nationwide lawsuit against manufacturers of so‑called forever chemicals.
During the December 16th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells introduced an agenda item to authorize Interim City Manager Matt Hall to execute a legal services agreement with the New Orleans law firm Stag Liuzza, LLC. City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave explained that Stag Liuzza is pursuing litigation against manufacturers of alleged hazardous chemicals, including polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, and aqueous film‑forming foam, known as AFFF.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to make products more resistant to water, grease, and stains. The chemicals have been used in a wide variety of items, including clothing, packaging, plastics, and firefighting foam. Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body. Extended exposure has been linked to high cholesterol, weakened immune system response, and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer.
Aqueous film‑forming foam is a specialized PFAS‑containing firefighting chemical used to put out gasoline, jet fuel, and other flammable liquid fires.
Stag Liuzza is one of dozens of law firms pursuing litigation against 3M, DuPont, BASF, and other chemical manufacturers. Billions of dollars from national PFAS settlements have already been set aside to help public water systems test for and remove these chemicals.
Back at the December 16th meeting, City Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the drinking water in Rawlins is, thankfully, free of forever chemicals. However, joining the nationwide lawsuit may help the city pay for cleanup costs at likely contaminated sites, including the municipal landfill.
The Environmental Protection Agency requires all public water systems to test their drinking water for PFAS over the next two years. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has set aside money to help towns pay for the federally mandated testing, which can cost between $300 and $600 per sample.
Attorney Maberry‑Nave explained to the Rawlins City Council that the PFAS lawsuit is unrelated to the EPA testing.
The Rawlins City Council unanimously authorized Interim City Manager Matt Hall to contract with Stag Liuzza on the PFAS lawsuit. Participation in the ongoing litigation will enable the city to seek settlement funds for testing and remediation related to forever chemicals.
