Asarco pays $1.79 bln for environmental cleanup

WASHINGTON Dec 10 (Reuters) - Asarco LLC, the U.S. copper miner that exited bankruptcy under a deal in which Grupo Mexico SAB de CV (GMEXICOB.MX) won control of it, has paid $1.79 billion for environmental cleanup and restoration, U.S. agencies said on Thursday.

The money, which was part of Asarco's bankruptcy plan, will pay for past and future costs at more than 80 sites contaminated by mining operations in 19 states, the Environmental Protection Agency and departments of Justice, Interior and Agriculture said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky)