One of the nation’s biggest school bus operators with routes across Connecticut has agreed to stop idling its 50,000 diesel-bus fleet while waiting to pick up 4 million American children daily.
The anti-idling measures against Ohio-based bus operator First Student Inc. are the result of a federal environmental enforcement action to address illegal idling at Connecticut and Rhode Island bus lots, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
In 2008, an EPA inspector observed buses idling for lengthy periods of time at First Student school bus lots in both states, with some idling for up to 2 ½ hours before departing the lot to pick up school children, the agency said. All six New England states ban vehicle idling.
First Student also agreed to a fine of $128,000 and will perform environmental projects valued at more than $1 million.
“Pollution from diesel vehicles is a serious problem across the country,” said Ira W. Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. ” Children, especially those suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments, are particularly vulnerable to diesel exhaust.”
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