Connecticut bus company to pay fine for violating air quality standards

A Rocky Hill bus company has agreed to pay a $24,225 penalty for violating air quality standards by permitting school buses to idle for too long at a bus yard in Hartford, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

The fine was imposed against Autumn Transportation, a privately-owned business that owns and operates about 120 buses and provides transportation for students and the public.

The EPA began investigating in the spring of 2022 after receiving a complaint about “excessive idling,” the agency said. On two separate days federal investigators conducted inspections and watched 30 school buses idling for a total of 418 minutes in alleged violation of state and federal law, the agency said..

Under a settlement with the EPA, Autumn has agreed, in addition to paying the fine, to take anti-idling compliance measures, increase driver awareness training, post “No Excessive Idling” signs, increase supervision of lots and certify compliance with federal and state regulations.

“Pollution from diesel-powered vehicles is a serious health concern in New England, particularly in historically underserved communities that are already disproportionately exposed to higher levels of pollution,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash.

“EPA is committed to addressing compliance issues across all of our programs to ensure communities have clean air, clean water, and are free from pollution,” Cash said. “By including the implementation of anti-idling measures in our settlement, EPA can better protect the community of Hartford and its children, who are particularly vulnerable to diesel exhaust.”

Under state and federal regulations, motor vehicles are prohibited from idling unnecessarily for longer than three minutes, the EPA said in a statement.

Idling diesel engines emit pollutants that can cause or aggravate a variety of health conditions, including asthma and other respiratory diseases. Further, the fine particles in diesel exhaust are a likely carcinogen. Diesel exhaust not only contributes to area-wide air quality problems, but more direct exposure can cause lightheadedness, nausea, sore throat, coughing, and other symptoms, according to the EPA.

Drivers, school children riding on the buses, facility workers, neighbors and bystanders are all vulnerable, the agency said.

An email seeking comment was sent to Autumn Transportation.