By Attorney General Dana Nessel
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has secured a $108 million settlement with Monsanto Company (PDF), the major manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and affiliated companies Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC to address harms from PCB contamination in the State of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will jointly oversee the use of funds to remediate PCB-contaminated property and resources and restore natural resources adversely impacted by contamination.
“Despite being banned for years in the United States, PCBs leave a toxic legacy that continues to threaten our health and environment,” said Attorney General Nessel. “This settlement directly supports our efforts to hold corporations accountable for the pollution caused by their products and ensures that we have the resources needed to remove these chemicals from our state.”
Under the agreement, Monsanto will pay an initial $32 million in June 2026 and another $32 million by March 2027. The settlement also includes a “contingency amount” tied to the outcome of related legal actions. The contingency guarantees an additional payment between $44 million and $176 million. Under these terms, Michigan will receive at least $108 million, with a possible maximum amount of $240 million.
PCBs are a group of human-made chemicals once used in a variety of manufacturing processes and for products ranging from coolants and lubricants to caulks, paper products, sealants, and electrical equipment. PCBs are banned for sale and manufacture in the United States due to their toxicity and their tendency to “bioaccumulate,” meaning the chemicals accumulate in an organism over time, and that accumulation continues up the food chain through consumption of contaminated plants and animals. In areas affected by PCB contamination, the wildlife and fish may contain unsafe levels of the chemicals. To prevent unsafe exposure to PCBs and other chemicals, Michigan issues the Eat Safe Fish guidelines.
With this settlement, EGLE and DNR will establish a joint decision-making framework to identify PCB remediation and resource restoration projects that reduce risks to public health, reduce bioaccumulation of PCBs in fish and wildlife, and restore PCB impacted areas in ways that increase the overall health of Michigan’s natural resources. DNR and EGLE will seek input from local governments, Tribes, and organizations interested in addressing PCB harms in Michigan, and will make some of the settlement funds available as grants and matching funds to promote efficient and effective use of the funds.
“This agreement represents an important step in addressing Michigan’s legacy PCB contamination and supporting ongoing efforts to reduce risks to communities and our natural resources,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “We are pleased this settlement will help advance EGLE’s work to protect public health and restore areas affected by PCBs. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure these dollars are used effectively for the benefit of Michigan residents.”
“We recognize the damage these forever chemicals have done to human health, the environment, and natural resources in our state,” said Scott Bowen, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “We are grateful to the Attorney General for securing this funding. We look forward to working with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to identify projects that will remove these toxins from our environment, increase public health and aid in restoring the quality of Michigan’s world class lands, waters, fish and wildlife.”
The Michigan Department of Attorney General was assisted in the claims and settlement by a team of Special Assistant Attorneys General (SAAGs). The SAAGs were reviewed and selected through a Request for Proposals process conducted in 2025.