After years of legal sparring over toxic chemicals in local waterways, Illinois has locked in a $120 million settlement with Monsanto over decades of PCB pollution, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Monday. Chicago, Evanston, and nine suburbs are set to split roughly $80 million, while the state will receive an initial $40 million. The deal resolves claims that Monsanto’s PCB production and disposal contaminated sewers, waterway,s and municipal infrastructure across northeastern Illinois.
According to Bloomberg Law, the settlement calls for Monsanto to pay $120 million, with about $80 million earmarked for the named cities and municipalities and $40 million initially going to the state. The agreement allows for additional payments that could more than double the base amount, depending on how related litigation plays out. The announcement follows a 2022 suit filed by Raoul that alleged broad contamination across Illinois.
Raoul said Chicago, Evanston, Lake Forest, North Chicago, Zion, Beach Park, Glencoe, Lake Bluff, Winnetka, and Winthrop Harbor will divide the municipal share, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The paper reports Raoul told reporters the settlement “will hold Monsanto accountable for producing and disposing of a dangerous toxic chemical” and that the company sold nearly 50 million pounds of PCB mixtures in Illinois. The Sun-Times adds that Monsanto admits no wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
Legal backstory
Raoul first sued Monsanto in 2022, alleging widespread contamination tied to the company’s former PCB plant in Sauget and other practices that harmed Illinois waterways and natural resources. Court records on Justia show the suit accuses Monsanto and its affiliates of discharging hazardous wastes from the W.G. Krummrich plant into sewers and landfills. Separate municipal lawsuits by North Shore suburbs have raised similar claims, as reported by the Daily Herald.
What PCBs are and why they matter
Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man-made industrial chemicals that were largely banned decades ago because they persist in the environment and are linked to cancer and other health harms. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that commercial PCB manufacture was effectively banned in 1979 and that PCBs still show up in soils, sediments and older building materials. That stubborn persistence helps explain why municipalities say they continue to face costly monitoring and cleanup needs tied to legacy contamination.
How communities might use the funds
Officials say the money is intended to help address contamination of waterways and natural resources in affected communities, with details on distribution and timing still to be worked out by the state and settlement administrators. Bloomberg Law reported that the funds will be distributed to the state and certain municipalities to tackle PCB pollution. Local leaders and environmental managers are expected to weigh priorities like monitoring, testing, and targeted remediation as plans are formalized.
Legal implications
Under the agreement, Monsanto does not admit wrongdoing, and the company issued a statement saying it conducted studies and provided warnings to industrial customers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The settlement leaves open the possibility of additional payments if related legal actions shift outcomes, a detail that could keep courtroom battles active even after the headline number is paid out. For communities and lawyers, the deal provides immediate resources while leaving unresolved questions about long-term cleanup responsibilities and oversight.
State and local officials now face the practical challenge of turning a high-profile settlement into on-the-ground testing, stormwater controls and cleanup plans. Raoul's office and the affected municipalities say they will release more details about timing and allocation as the settlement is implemented.
