Lawyer Sanders says EPA stepping up enforcement of idling restrictions on commercial fleets in North East.

EPA fined Allied Waste Services of Massachusetts $195,000 penalty for excessive idling of diesel motor vehicles. In 2007, an EPA inspector observed over sixty diesel-powered garbage trucks idling excessively at four Allied depots in Quincy, Fall River, Revere and Brockton. As part of the settlement, Allied Waste is required to implement an anti-idling program with driver training, posted signs, and twice-daily management inspections of the depots' parking lots. Allied will also certify that automatic shut-off devices in its trucks are working and set to a five-minute standard.

This action is part of EPA's ongoing effort to reduce unnecessary engine idling. Idling wastes fuel, emits greenhouse gases and degrades air quality. EPA's enforcement effort is complemented by providing assistance to fleets and facilities to help them find alternatives to idling. An idling truck or bus can waste nearly a gallon of fuel per hour and incurs significantly more engine wear than driving.

The Massachusetts idling regulation enforced by EPA in this case generally limits vehicle idling to no more than five minutes. Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island also have anti-idling laws.