The state Department of Environmental Conservation say the Town of Brookhaven landfill violated air quality rules following months of foul-smelling complaints from residents.

The DEC says the town repeatedly violated state air-quality rules last December by failing to contain foul odors from the landfill.

Adrienne Esposito, of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says the violations basically amount to "a slap on the wrist" for the town and don't fix the issue.

"People at the school are suffering," she says, referring to Frank P. Long Intermediate School, where some students and teachers have reported falling ill due to the landfill. Parents have been fighting for the school's closure.

Wendy Mijal pays out of pocket for her 9-year-old daughter to go to a neighboring district because of health concerns stemming from the landfill. She says she's outraged by the lack of action from the town.

The Town of Brookhaven issued a statement saying: "Working with the NYDEC, we have undertaken an aggressive program to cap and close this landfill and provide increased measures to combat odors traditionally associated with landfills."