Wendy Angel

Denver -- The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a $13.9 million settlement for the cleanup of the Lowry Landfill Superfund site near Denver. Under the consent decree filed Monday, the city and county of Denver, Waste Management of Colorado Inc. and six other companies will refund the federal government money already spent on the cleanup. The defendants also must continue cleanup at the 508-acre site and pay costs incurred by the federal government in future dealings with the site. Estimated long-term maintenance is expected to cost $43 million and last more than 30 years.

The Lowry Landfill is one of the nation’s largest Superfund sites, according to that Department of Justice. The department and the EPA filed the initial complaint against the site in 2002, but the investigation and cleanup of the improperly disposed liquid industrial waste has been underway for more than 20 years.

The consent decree, filed in district court in Denver, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.