Maui County has agreed to a $5.1-million settlement with federal officials about alleged clean air violations at its major landfill, including uncontrolled release of gases from rotting garbage.

The violations of federal Clean Air Act were alleged at the landfill in Puunene in 2007, following inspections by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The settlement, released today by the EPA and Maui County, requires the county to enhance gas monitoring to help to reduce the threat of underground fires at the landfill and to follow fire response procedures in the event of a fire.

The county has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $380,000 and to build a renewable energy wind farm of eight wind turbines near the landfill’s self-service facility.