Oregon’s $700M From Monsanto Settlement Will Establish Environmental Restoration Fund

Oregon’s $700M from Monsanto settlement will establish environmental restoration fund

Oregon is getting ready to launch a massive new environmental restoration fund that will funnel money for conservation projects to communities and tribes harmed by pollution and to state agencies that work on pollution and environmental issues.

Group formed to invest, grant money from state’s largest environmental damages settlement • Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Lower John Day River, pictured, is among the Oregon waterways contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls. (Photo by Greg Shine/U.S. Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)More than two years ago, Oregon settled with agrochemical giant Monsanto over the company’s alleged role in polluting waters of the state for more than 90 years with toxic chemicals harming humans and aquatic species. Now, Gov. Tina Kotek and the newly established Oregon Environme…

Chuck Sams to help spend Oregon’s Monsanto settlement funds on restoration projects

The most recent National Parks Service director, Chuck Sams, will help lead local conservation work as a co-chair of the Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund.On Wednesday, Gov. Tina Kotek’s office announced Sams will co-chair the restoration fund council alongside Michael Dembrow, who was a Democratic state lawmaker representing Portland for over 15 years.Sams was the first Native American to lead the National Park Service, appointed by Preside…