AFP - A bankrupt Arizona copper mining firm has paid 1.79 billion dollars for environmental cleanup and restoration in the largest such payout in US history, US federal agencies said Thursday.

The funds, obtained through Asarco's bankruptcy reorganization, will be used to pay for past and future costs to clean up hazardous mining waste at more than 80 sites in 19 states.

The American Smelting and Refining Company (Asarco), a leading copper producer based in Tucson, will remain liable for any environmental damage at properties it continues to own and operate, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the departments of justice, interior and agriculture announced.

"This will mean cleaner land, water and air for communities across the country," said Cynthia Giles, assistant EPA administrator.

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli hailed what he called an "historic day for the environment and the people affected across the country."

The firm exited Wednesday more than four years of bankruptcy reorganization -- the largest environment-related bankruptcy ever in the United States -- after it was bought by Grupo Mexico SAB, a Mexican mining and railroad giant based in Mexico City.

For nearly 110 years, Asarco operated mines, smelters and refineries of copper, lead and other heavy metals. But the company buckled under the weight of heavy cleanup costs at the sites. It continues to operate mines in Arizona and a refinery in Amarillo, Texas.

The federal government received around 776 million dollars to restore over 35 sites, including a lead smelter in Omaha, Nebraska. Lead poisoning is considered particularly toxic for children, and has been linked to learning and behavior disorders as well as hearing loss.

Cleanup work at the Omaha site alone is expected to cost 219 million dollars. Another 436 million will be allocated to the Coeur D'Alene Work Trust to remediate a mine in Idaho.

Of the remaining funds, three trusts received around 261 million for work at 24 sites in 13 states. Another 321 million were paid to 14 different states for environmental settlement obligations at more than 36 sites.

The affected sites were in Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Federal officials noted that without the settlement, US taxpayers would have been forced to pay for the cleanup. The process is expected to take years.