Maui County pays fine over alleged landfill air violations

Maui County has agreed to pay a $380,000 fine, implement enhanced gas monitoring and build a renewable energy wind farm to resolve alleged violations of air pollution laws at the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene, Hawaii.

The U.S. EPA said the settlement resolves the allegation that Maui County violated the Clean Air Act by failing to design, construct and operate a gas collection system.

Maui estimates it has spent $4.5 million in the design and construction of a gas collection and control system at the landfill. Federal law requires large landfills to install and operate systems to collect gases generated by decomposing refuse, the EPA said.

The wind farm is expected to supply the landfill with about 38% of the power it needs to operate.

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