DALLAS -- Federal officials have lodged claims that could easily top $1 billion against Asarco LLC for environmental damage left at 31 sites operated by the bankrupt mining and smelting company, including Washington state. The claims are based on Asarco cleaning up the sites, and it could rise significantly if the Environmental Protection Agency is required to do the work, government lawyers say. The Department of Justice filed the claim before a deadline Tuesday for submitting claims to an administrator appointed by a federal bankruptcy judge in Corpus Christi. States are seeking additional cleanup money. Last week, Washington state filed a claim for up to $600 million. The company also faces asbestos-exposure claims from individuals that could run into the hundreds of millions.