"Anadarko Petroleum Corp's agreement to pay $5.15 billion to clean up nuclear fuel and other pollution received approval from a federal judge on Monday, the final hurdle for the settlement touted by the U.S. Department of Justice as the largest-ever environmental cleanup recovery.

The agreement, reached in April, resolved a lawsuit against Anadarko and its Kerr-McGee unit from creditors of Tronox Inc, the paint materials maker that was once a unit of Kerr-McGee.

Opponents of the settlement could still appeal, but would face tough odds given its broad support among the parties in the case. Barring an appeal, money could be dispersed "within weeks," John Hueston, a lawyer for the Tronox creditors, said in an interview on Monday."

Nick Brown reports for Reuters November 10, 2014. [2]