Waste hauler pays $195G fine for Revere, other violations

REVERE – For the second time in as many years, a trash hauler operating in the city is paying a federal pollution fine for allowing its trucks to idle too long.The federal Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that Allied Waste Services of Massachusetts will pay a $195,000 penalty to settle an environmental enforcement case brought by EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice for excessive motor vehicle idling.In 2007, an EPA inspector observed more than 60 diesel-powered garbage trucks idling excessively at four Allied depots in Quincy, Fall River, Revere and Brockton.The settlement, filed as a judicial consent decree in federal court Wednesday, is the latest of nine federal enforcement actions brought against vehicle fleet owners in New England for idling violations. Three of Allied’s depots were in heavily populated areas.Allied Market Vice President Bruce Stanas confirmed the settlement and payment and said the nation-wide firm is “working closely with the EPA to resolve this issue.””We understand the critical role we play in being good environmental stewards,” Stanas said.EPA fined East Boston hauler Capitol Waste Services, Inc. last July $107,300 after an EPA inspector observed 100 instances of “excessive idling” by Capitol garbage trucks parked in a company lot in Revere.Diesel engines emit pollutants that can cause or aggravate a variety of health conditions such as asthma, other respiratory illnesses, and heart disease. Long term exposure to diesel exhaust can also cause lung cancer.”Excessive vehicle idling is an entirely preventable form of air pollution,” said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Idling from diesel engines contributes to ozone smog and particulate pollution, increasing health risks for people who are exposed to these emissions.”Allied’s settlement includes 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.Idling wastes fuel, emits greenhouse gases and degrades air quality. 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.