Deal to end Monsanto pollution lawsuit in Oregon

Monsanto will pay Oregon a lump sum of $698 million for its role in polluting the state with PCBs over a 90-year period, Oregon Attorney General said Thursday.

It's the largest environmental damage recovery in Oregon's history, she said.PCBs are toxic compounds formerly used in coolants, electrical equipment such as fluorescent lights and other devices. They still contaminate the state's landfills and riverbeds and show up in fish and wildlife.

PCB pollution-related settlements are becoming increasingly common, but Attorney General said Oregon's settlement is "magnitudes larger" than any other state PCB settlement with Monsanto.