A $225 million settlement between the Christie administration and ExxonMobil is set to be discussed in front of a state judge.

The Department of Environmental Protection and the oil company are scheduled to make the case for the deal on Thursday in Superior Court in Mount Holly in the 11-year-old case.

Judge Michael Hogan will decide whether to accept the proposed settlement that critics say is far too small.

Gov. Chris Christie's office argues the deal is the second largest natural resources recovery against a corporate defendant in the country. If approved it would also be the largest natural resources damages settlement payment in state history.

Environmentalists and opponents say the settlement shortchanges the state, which originally sought $8.9 billion.