Rhode Island Settles Pollution Lawsuit With Pharma Companies For $25M: AG

Toxic chemicals polluted Rhode Island’s waterways and natural resources, according to the attorney general's office.

By Joseph Hosey, Patch Staff

May 18, 2026 11:36 am EDT | Updated May 18, 2026 12:43 pm EDT

Rhode Island settled a lawsuit with pharmaceutical companies for $25 million, according to the state attorney general's office.

The settlement with Monsanto Company and its affiliates Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC guarantees at least $25 million to the State of Rhode Island with a total potential value of up to $62.5 million, depending on the outcome of related indemnity litigation currently pending between the Monsanto affiliates and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCB, purchasers, according to a media release.

"Today we hold Monsanto accountable for the longstanding harms we allege were caused by its production of PCBs and misleading the public about these toxic chemicals,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said in the release.

“While the production of PCBs stopped in the 1970s, their lasting effects have endangered Rhode Island’s natural resources, as well as public health," Neronha said. "Today’s $25 million settlement will provide much-needed resources to help clean up Rhode Island waters for the benefit of the greater public.”

Monsanto issued a statement via email.

“Monsanto has reached settlement agreements with Rhode Island and Michigan to resolve all claims relating to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a legacy product the company voluntarily ceased producing in 1977, at values that are in the company’s best interest," the statement said.

"The settlements contain no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company. Under the terms of the agreements, Monsanto will make upfront payments of $12.5 million to Rhode Island in June of this year and $64 million to Michigan ($32 million of which will be paid in June of this year and $32 million to be paid in March of 2027)," the statement said. "The settlements include additional contingency payments within five years that are tied to the outcome of Monsanto’s pending action in Missouri to enforce its indemnity rights against its largest former PCB customers.

In the attorney general's office release, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Terry Gray expressed his gratitude to the attorney general’s office and outside counsel.

"Although PCB production was banned nationwide nearly five decades ago, Rhode Island communities are still living with the lasting consequences of contamination from these chemicals in our environment,” Gray said.

"This agreement will help provide the critical resources to enhance our efforts to clean up contaminated sites across Rhode Island, making them safe in our neighborhoods and bringing them back to productive reuse," he said. "When PCBs are released into the environment, they pollute our soil and water and impact the food chain for fish and wildlife. The financial burden of these cleanups should rightfully fall on the responsible parties that manufactured them.”