Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has reached a $120 million settlement with Monsanto Company and its affiliates over decades of pollution caused by toxic chemicals. The settlement addresses the harmful effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chemicals Monsanto produced for many years despite knowing they were dangerous.
Monsanto, along with Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC, will pay to help clean up PCB contamination in Illinois. The funds will benefit the state as well as Chicago and nearby cities like Evanston, Lake Forest, North Chicago, Zion, Beach Park, Glencoe, Lake Bluff, Winnetka, and Winthrop Harbor.
PCBs were widely used in products like paints, caulking, and industrial gear until the EPA banned them in 1979. Monsanto made nearly all of the PCBs in the U.S., including about 50 million pounds sold just in Illinois from 1960 to the mid-1970s. The company’s plant in Sauget, Illinois, was a major source of pollution, dumping hazardous waste into sewers and landfills, which harmed local soil, water, and air.
Under the agreement, Illinois will receive $80 million by March 2026 to fund cleanup efforts across the state and the affected cities. Additionally, depending on ongoing related lawsuits, Illinois could gain between $40 million and $200 million more, potentially bringing the total settlement to $280 million.
Attorney General Raoul emphasized that this settlement holds Monsanto accountable for the lasting damage caused by PCBs. He noted that even though the chemicals have been banned for decades, their effects still threaten Illinois communities and natural resources today.
This settlement marks an important step in addressing environmental harm and offers a path for affected areas to recover from years of contamination. The money will support cleanup and help protect residents from the ongoing health risks tied to these toxic substances.