Monsanto Agrees to $160 Million Settlement With Seattle Over Pollution in the Duwamish River

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News and World Report/AP

July 25, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.


SEATTLE (AP) — Ending an eight-year legal battle, chemical giant Monsanto has agreed to a $160-million settlement with Seattle for its part in polluting a river that runs through the heart of the city with toxins that posed a threat to humans, fish and wildlife, the city attorney's office said Thursday. “We all play a role in protecting our environment and I am glad that Monsanto will contribute to this important environmental cleanup," City Attorney Ann Davison said in a news release. It's the largest single-city settlement Monsanto has paid, she said.

The Duwamish River cuts through Seattle, emptying into Puget Sound just south of downtown. Water samples collected from the Lower Duwamish detected polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which are man-made chemical compounds that were manufactured by Monsanto, according to the city's lawsuit.

Although Monsanto stopped manufacturing PCBs in 1977, the chemicals continued to exist in paints, caulking and sealants on buildings, Davison said. As a result, stormwater flowing into the Lower Duwamish River has been continually contaminated with PCBs. Seattle sued Monsanto in 2016, saying the company “was well aware” that PCBs were toxic to animals, fish and the environment, but it continued to manufacture its products.

“While the scientific community and Monsanto knew that PCBs were toxic and becoming a global contaminant, Monsanto repeatedly misrepresented these facts, telling governmental entities the exact opposite — that the compounds were not toxic and that the company would not expect to find PCBs in the environment in a widespread manner,” Seattle's lawsuit said. Under the settlement, Monsanto did not admit to any wrongdoing, fault or violation of the law. The settlement requires the company to pay Seattle $160 million by Aug. 4.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-07-25/monsanto-agrees-to-160-million-settlement-with-seattle-over-pollution-in-the-duwamish-river

[SupportSanity]

1. the largest single-city settlement Monsanto has paid

the city attorney's office said Thursday. “We all play a role in protecting our environment and I am glad that Monsanto will contribute to this important environmental cleanup," City Attorney Ann Davison said in a news release.

Strange. Rather that saying that they were able to extricate the money from Monsanto after lengthy and costly litigation, Ann Davison makes it sound like a happy cooperative occasion?!

[GusBob]

2. They got off cheap if you ask me

Something doesnt seem right here

The cost of cleaning up PCBs in the Fox river in my hometown of Green Bay was a 1 billion

[SupportSanity]

3. It might've cost the $160 million just to litigate.

[Clouds Passing]

4. The company that keeps polluting because the company itself is a toxic contaminant.

[cbabe]

5. Should pay all clean up costs. Not a 'settlement'.

[maxsolomon]

6. The Duwamish is a tragic tale. Monsanto's contribution is just another nail in the coffin.

It's hard to believe it was once the richest marine estuary in North America.

This is supposed to be about half the cost of the cleanup - but I don't see much cleanup going on.