The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the Maui County has agreed to a settlement to resolve alleged violations of air pollution laws at Central Maui Landfill in Puunene.

The settlement requires the county to implement enhanced gas monitoring to help reduce the threat of underground fires at the landfill and to follow fire response procedures in the event of a fire.

Additionally, the county will be building a renewable energy wind farm to reduce fossil fuel power plant emissions near the landfill. The county will also pay a civil penalty of $380,000.

The county estimates that it has spent about $4.5 million to design and construct a gas collection and control system required by the Clean Air Act at the landfill.

Federal law requires large landfills to install and operate systems to collect gases generated by decomposing refuse, such as air toxics, organic compounds and methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Effective gas controls at the landfill reduce the release of these gases, preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere.

The consent decree, filed in the Hawaii 0U.S. District Court, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval and may be viewed at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.