HARTFORD — Three decommissioned nuclear plants in New England said Thursday that they have been reimbursed nearly $160 million from the federal government in a 14-year-old lawsuit over costs to dispose of spent nuclear fuel that has yet to be removed.

Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co., Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co., and Yankee Atomic Electric Co. said the federal government decided against appealing a US Court of ­Appeals ruling upholding claims of $39.7 million to Connecticut Yankee in Haddam, $81.7 million to Maine Yankee in Wiscasset, Maine, and $38.3 million to Yankee Atomic in Rowe, Mass.