Rhode Island AG announces $25 million PCB settlement with Monsanto, Solutia and Pharmacia

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced a $25 million settlement with Monsanto, Solutia and Pharmacia over PCB contamination, a deal that could rise to as much as $62.5 million depending on related indemnity litigation.

The announcement, made on May 18, 2026, centers on costs tied to cleaning up and recovering from contamination linked to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. According to the attorney general's office, the settlement is intended to help address environmental harms and state recovery costs.

Reuters later reported the same day that Bayer, Monsanto's parent company, had agreed to pay at least $133 million across PCB settlements in Rhode Island and Michigan. Bayer also confirmed the broader settlement activity in a company statement.

The Rhode Island deal is the latest in a series of PCB-related resolutions involving states and the companies connected to Monsanto's historical PCB business. A key open question is whether the related indemnity litigation will increase Rhode Island's payout.

State officials have not yet detailed how the money will be allocated, but the settlement is expected to support cleanup and restoration efforts tied to the contamination.