Purpose
The state of Oregon has secured a historic $698 million settlement against Monsanto for harm caused by the company’s polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) chemicals, which have damaged Oregon’s land, water, fish, and wildlife for over 90 years.
In 2024, Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 1561 into law, creating
Oregon’s Environmental Restoration Fund (OERF), which will use the proceeds of the settlement to fund projects and purposes that impact Oregon’s environment and its communities that have been harmed. The Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund is administered by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB).
As a part of the Fund, the Legislature established the
Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC) to ensure a responsible and restorative distribution of funds. The structure of the Fund makes sure that it can be used over many years and will have an impact on underserved communities.
More information on the work of the Fund will be added to this webpage as the Council is established.
Origin
From the 1930s to just before they were banned in 1979, Monsanto was the sole manufacturer of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in the United States. Multiple states have pursued legal action against Monsanto, alleging that since at least 1937, the company knew PCBs were harmful. PCBs were primarily used for cooling and insulation effects in industrial and consumer products. The chemicals were distributed throughout Oregon in a variety of products, including paint, caulking, and electrical equipment.
The Environmental Protection Agency classifies them as a probable carcinogen, and they are known to harm the immune, reproductive, and nervous systems in humans and other living things. Experts say removing PCBs from the environment is the best way to prevent them from harming people, fish, and wildlife.
In 2018, the Oregon Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in state court. In it, attorneys for the state wrote that PCBs are highly toxic and can harm people’s immune systems. Rather than go to trial, Monsanto settled with the state for $698 million dollars providing Oregon with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore ecosystems and communities across our state. This settlement award is the largest of its kind nationally, with the next highest award only amounting to a fraction of what Oregon settled on.
In 2024, Senate Bill 1561 was passed by the Oregon Legislature to establish the OERF and OERC to guide how these funds will be used to benefit all Oregonians.
Resources
Contact
For questions about the Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund, please contact
Nicole Mannes, OERF Manager, 971-283-5679.