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CNS News...
EPA Levies
$438,000 in Fines and Mandatory ‘Environmental Projects’ on School Bus
Contractor for ‘Excessive Idling’
By Elizabeth Harrington
April 10, 2012
(CNSNews.com) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced
nearly $500,000 in fines and mandatory “environmental projects” on a
school bus contractor for “excessive idling,” and as part of its
anti-idling campaign to reduce the carbon footprint of school buses
waiting to pick up children for their routes.
“As part of a settlement for alleged excessive diesel idling in
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Durham School Services
will commit to reduce idling from its school bus fleet of 13,900 buses
operating in 30 states,” read an EPA press release on Tuesday.
The EPA says an agency inspector two years ago spotted buses of the
Durham School Services, the second largest school bus transportation
contractor in the country, “idling for extended periods of time” in
school lots in New England.
“The inspector observed some buses idling for close to two hours before
departing the bus lot to pick up school children,” it said. State rules
limit idling to three minutes in Connecticut and five minutes in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where the infractions occurred.
Durham reached a settlement for the violation and agreed to pay $90,000
in penalties. It also agreed to pay for $348,000 worth of environmental
projects, including implementing a national training and management
program “to prevent excessive idling from its entire fleet of school
buses.”
Under the program Durham must require its supervisors to “monitor
idling in school bus lots, post anti-idling signs in areas where
drivers congregate, and notify the school districts it serves of its
anti-idling policy.”
The EPA’s enforcement is part of its broader national campaign aimed at
reducing idling among public school bus fleets. The federal agency
claims a bus whose engine is running while stationary consumes about
one-half gallon of fuel per hour.
“By reducing the idling time of each bus in its fleet by one hour per
day, Durham would reduce its fuel use by 1.25 million gallons per year
and avoid emitting 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year,” the
release stated, adding, “Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that
contributes to climate change.”
According to the EPA, as of 2006, 30 states plus the District of
Columbia had either state, county or local anti-idling regulations in
place, with the city of Philadelphia setting the maximum allowable time
for diesel powered motor vehicles at two consecutive minutes.
The EPA Web site even provides a “do it yourself kit” for those wishing
to bring the anti-idling campaign to their school district, providing
brochures, posters, a “Teacher’s Guide for use in reinforcing key
messages of the Idle-Reduction campaign,” and pledge cards for drivers
that read, “I’m doing my share for clean air.”
Also available for order are bus driver key chains “that can be used by
bus drivers daily to remind them that they hold the key to a healthier
ride,” and a five-minute training video entitled “Reducing School Bus
Idling: The Key to a Healthier Ride.”
Also referenced is California’s 2003 anti-idling regulation that bus
drivers must to turn off their vehicle within 100 feet of a school and
must not turn the bus back on more than 30 seconds before beginning to
depart – or face a minimum penalty of $100.
The EPA suggests purchasing block engine pre-heaters, which cost
approximately $1,200 to $1,500 each, to reduce idling and warm up
engines and passenger compartments during colder months. Also
available are Compartment/Engine Block Heaters that cost approximately
$2,300 to $2,500.
The EPA claims the diesel emitted from school buses pollutes the air,
wastes fuel, causes excess engine wear, and is harmful to children’s
health.
“Children, especially those suffering from asthma or other respiratory
ailments, are particularly vulnerable to diesel exhaust,” said Curt
Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, in
announcing the fines levied on Durham.
“EPA is pleased with this settlement, which will dramatically limit
school bus idling and help protect the health of school children in
dozens of communities across the country,” he said.
Read this and other articles at CNS News
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