Monsanto Settles $160 Million Lawsuit Over Duwamish River Pollution

SEATTLE (AP) — In a significant resolution to an eight-year legal dispute, Monsanto has agreed to pay Seattle $160 million for its role in polluting the Duwamish River with toxic chemicals. This settlement, announced by the city attorney’s office, marks the largest single-city payment made by Monsanto. The Duwamish River, which flows through Seattle and into Puget Sound, has been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) due to stormwater runoff. Seattle's lawsuit, filed in 2016, accused Monsanto of knowingly manufacturing PCBs despite being aware of their harmful effects on wildlife and the environment. The city claimed that Monsanto misled governmental entities about the toxicity of these compounds, asserting that the company falsely stated that PCBs would not be found in the environment in significant amounts. Despite the settlement, Monsanto did not admit to any wrongdoing or legal violations. As part of the agreement, Monsanto is required to pay the settlement amount by August 4. The funds will assist Seattle Public Utilities in enhancing efforts to protect the Duwamish River, which is designated as a Superfund Site. The city is also mandated to construct a stormwater treatment facility to address PCB contamination, with estimated costs around $27 million. The Environmental Protection Agency previously projected that the total cleanup cost for the river could reach $342 million. City officials expressed optimism that the settlement will facilitate further pollution control measures and help mitigate the financial burden of cleaning up the river.