Blackwell officials have accepted a $54 million settlement in a lawsuit against an international mining company whose entity was blamed for pollution in the northern Oklahoma city.

The city sued Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. in October, alleging that area soil and groundwater were contaminated with lead, zinc, cadmium and arsenic as a result of mining operations by Blackwell Zinc Co. from 1916 to 1974.

According to a statement released Friday, Freeport-McMoRan will be reponsible for remediating soil and groundwater in accordance with Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality requirements.

A spokesman for Phoenix-based Freeport didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

Blackwell Mayor Mark Cordell called the settlement "historic in scope," and said the settlement will be used to develop groundwater, smelter material and soil management programs.