A $225 million deal between Gov. Chris Christie's administration and ExxonMobil over dozens of polluted sites and nearly 2,000 retail gas stations has been approved by a New Jersey judge.
Superior Court Judge Michael Hogan ruled Tuesday in the 11-year-old case that spanned Democratic and Republican governors.
The Christie administration has hailed the deal as the nation's second-largest of its kind against a corporate polluter.
Hogan says the deal is a reasonable compromise given the substantial litigation risks faced by the state.
The deal was criticized by environmental groups and Democrats who control the state Legislature.
They say the settlement is a fraction of the $8.9 billion New Jersey should have recovered.