Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has announced a settlement worth at least $32 million involving Monsanto Company, Solutia, Inc., and Pharmacia LLC over claims related to environmental contamination caused by polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs.
Under the agreement, Arkansas is guaranteed to receive at least $32 million. However, the total amount could eventually rise to as much as $80 million depending on the outcome of separate litigation.
The case centered on claims that PCBs manufactured by Monsanto contributed to environmental contamination. Monsanto stopped producing the chemicals in the late 1970s, before the federal government banned them in 1979.
Settlement funds will support water quality
Griffin said the agreement resolves the state’s claims and noted that PCBs manufactured by Monsanto had already been circulating for decades before production ended.
“I am pleased that this case is resolved and that Monsanto is doing right by Arkansans. Although the company stopped manufacturing PCBs in the late 1970s, before the federal government banned them in 1979, Monsanto’s PCBs had been in circulation for nearly half a century.
“Arkansas will receive at least $32 million per the settlement agreement with Monsanto and could receive up to $80 million depending on the outcome of separate litigation. These funds are restricted in nature and will be spent in furtherance of water quality.”
The settlement therefore provides Arkansas with a significant amount of funding while bringing the claims against the companies to a resolution.
The money Arkansas receives cannot simply be directed toward any state expense. According to Griffin, the settlement funds are restricted and will be used for purposes connected to improving or supporting water quality.
While $32 million is the minimum Arkansas is expected to receive under the settlement agreement, the final amount remains dependent on what happens in separate litigation and could ultimately reach $80 million.
