Monsanto To Pay State For PCB Contamination

The state of West Virginia has reached a settlement with Monsanto Company, Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC for toxic contamination of the state’s waterways and natural resources, according to a release from state Attorney General JB McCuskey. 

The settlement guarantees a $24.5 million payment to the state, including $12.5 million to be paid by the end of 2025. 

Polychlorinated Biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs, are toxic chemicals banned in 1979 due to their links to cancer and harmful effects on immune, nervous and reproductive systems. Despite the ban, PCBs have persisted in the environment, accumulating in human and animal tissues.

“West Virginia communities have shouldered the burden of PCB contamination for far too long, impacting our rivers, land and health,” McCuskey said. “This settlement agreement ensures that Monsanto is held accountable for the environmental damage caused by PCBs decades ago and will be critical in our ongoing efforts to protect West Virginians for generations to come.”

The settlement could mean up to $60.5 million for the state before December 2030, depending on separate litigation Monsanto is pursuing against major PCB purchasers.

More than 540 acres of lakes and 440 miles of rivers and streams in West Virginia are believed to be impaired by PCBs. 

Complaints filed in other states have alleged that Monsanto produced 99% of all PCBs in the United States and knowingly concealed their environmental and health risks for decades. 

West Virginia’s settlement follows similar resolutions in other states. West Virginia’s per-capita settlement amount — even excluding contingencies — is among the highest in the country.