Gov. David Paterson said an accord has been struck to pay for cleanup at the West Valley site in Cattaraugus County, ending a long dispute between new York state and the federal government.

The agreement, or consent decree, calls for the federal government to pay for 90 percent of the cleanup, with the state covering the remaining 10 percent. The announcement also closes a three-year old law suit in the matter and clarifies responsibilities on both sides.

Officials say the cost to the state and federal governments is above $2.4 billion with New York having paid more than $270 million.

The site, also known as the West Valley Nuclear Service Center, is 30 miles south of Buffalo. The nation's first commercial nuclear reprocessing facility operated there from 1966 to 1972 but has not reopened.