Great Falls, MT: (May-13-08) A class action lawsuit was brought against the state of Montana, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Columbia Paint & Coating Co. and Monsanto Chemical Co., by landowners, who claimed that pollution near Big Spring Creek near Lewistown, caused their property values to drop. Sources familiar with the negotiations stated that as part of a settlement reached, a judge has approved a $6 million payout to resolve the class action claims.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, 202 landowners living downstream from Big Springs Hatchery at Lewistown will get $3.3 million. Yet to be finalized is how much the defendants must pay for the clean-up of the creek. Fish, Wildlife & Parks owns Big Springs Hatchery, whose raceways were painted in the 1960s. The suit stated that the paint flakes containing PCBs washed downstream for miles, contaminating fish. [
