Hawaiʻi Settled PCB Contamination Claims With Monsanto

The state secured a guaranteed $10 million payment to address environmental damage from legacy chemicals.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Environmental

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of geometric dark rock shapes in flowing water, representing industrial chemical cleanup policy. — Hawaii has reached a $10 million settlement with Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia to resolve state claims regarding long-term PCB water contamination. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hawaiʻi reached a settlement with Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia resolving state claims over polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in waterways and natural resources. The agreement mandates an initial $10 million payment to the state.

Why it matters

This settlement addresses the long-term environmental burden caused by industrial chemicals that were produced for decades before their 1979 federal prohibition. It marks a significant recovery for the state as it manages persistent contamination in its natural ecosystems.

The settlement includes a guaranteed $10 million payment, with an additional $11.55 million to $35 million possible depending on pending indemnity outcomes. Monsanto served as the sole U.S. manufacturer of PCBs from 1929 until their 1977 production cycle ended.

The players

Monsanto

An agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation that was the sole U.S. manufacturer of PCBs from the 1930s through 1977.

Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General

The state agency responsible for managing legal claims and representing the interests of Hawaiʻi in environmental litigation.

The details

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds that were once widely used in industrial applications due to their chemical stability and insulating properties. The settlement covers claims against Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia for the environmental persistence of these substances in Hawaiʻi waterways. The state is currently pursuing additional environmental litigation, including a 2023 lawsuit against 25 manufacturers regarding PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which are synthetic substances that resist environmental degradation.

1929 to 1977: Monsanto manufactured and sold PCBs.
1979: The United States prohibited the production and use of PCBs.
2023: Hawaiʻi filed a lawsuit against 25 PFAS manufacturers.
October 31, 2026: Deadline for the initial $10 million payment.

The Tech Race

This settlement follows the regulatory trajectory established by the 1979 federal ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It marks a continued effort by the state to hold manufacturers accountable for persistent environmental legacies that predate modern chemical management.

The settlement funds are directed toward the remediation of state natural resources and waterways impacted by decades of PCB contamination. Residents can monitor the state's ongoing legal recovery efforts, which include a separate active lawsuit against 25 PFAS manufacturers filed in 2023.

The takeaway

The resolution of these PCB claims provides a significant influx of capital for environmental cleanup efforts in Hawaii. Observers should track the outcome of the indemnity action against historic purchasers, which will determine the final total of the $45 million potential payout.