Diesel Exhaust in New England
Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont & 10 Tribal Nations
Idling
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Idling
- A typical heavy-duty truck or bus can burn approximately one gallon of diesel fuel for each hour it idles, generating significant amounts of pollution, wasting fuel, and causing excessive engine wear.
- To reduce idling without sacrificing comfort, vehicle owners can use mobile or stationary idle reduction technology. These devices substantially reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions. An overview of idle reduction technologies for trucks (PDF) (2 pp, 116K) is available from EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership
- The Dept of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory offers a “How Much Could You Save by Idling Less?” calculator (PDF) (1 pg, 234K). Idle reduction technologies for trucks, buses, locomotives and vessels are verified by EPA’s SmartWay program
- The Department of Energy lists truck parking facilities equipped with Truck Stop Electrification technology by location
- The New England Asthma Regional Council (ARC) offers a toolkit to help schools, communities, environmental officials, and others reduce harmful diesel emissions from school buses. It includes materials created by the ARC and others around the country. The toolkit can be found online.
- See the Documents Section to download fact sheets on idling.
- All six states in New England have anti-idling regulations.
- Connecticut (PDF) (11 pp, 214K)
- Maine (PDF) (3 pp, 12K)
- Massachusetts (PDF) (2 pp, 142K)
- New Hampshire (PDF) (5 pp, 46K)
- Rhode Island (PDF) (6 pp, 25K)
- Vermont
- View a compendium of current idling regulations by state.
SmartWay Transport
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a voluntary collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and improve transportation supply chain efficiency. SmartWay "makes the business case" for how companies shipping products, and the carriers that move those products, can improve their environmental profile while saving money and time.
Companies join the SmartWay Transport Partnership for a 3 year period, and begin by analyzing the efficiency of their operations using SmartWay software. EPA helps partners set individualized goals and select the right strategies to achieve them. Fleets choose from a wide variety of strategies to minimize idle time, reduce rolling resistance, improve aerodynamics, refine logistics and train drivers. Shippers participate by increasing the proportion of their product carried by the most efficient SmartWay carrier partners, choosing the most efficient modes, and improving freight logistics. Partners benchmark their operations, track their savings, and report yearly to EPA. Partners’ SmartWay scores can qualify them to use the logo and receive other forms of recognition, including awards.
SmartWay partners now number close to 3000, including most of the biggest trucking companies and most visible shippers. But SmartWay is not only for huge companies—many smaller carriers and regionally-known shippers participate. SmartWay fact sheets and case studies showcase successful fuel-saving strategies. EPA is working with other countries to develop compatible freight efficiency programs that will enable international shippers to streamline their entire supply chain. SmartWay also specs fuel-efficient truck and trailer models, verifies fuel-saving technology, and sets up financing programs.
EPA New England is active in SmartWay, supporting existing partners, signing on new partners, and promoting efficient freight technologies, strategies and infrastructure. Four NE-based SmartWay partners have received regional Environmental Merit Awards. For more information, see the SmartWay website or contact Abby Swaine (swaine.abby@epa.gov or 617-918-1841) at EPA New England.
Idling Enforcement
All six New England states have anti-idling regulations. The Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island regulations are part of state implementation plans. State regulations that are part of state implementation plans are federally enforceable. This means that EPA, as well as the State, has the authority to enforce these laws. EPA has taken enforcement action against fleets in Connecticut, Massachusetts and RI for alleged violations of the anti-idling regulations in those states. The press page of this site contains specific information about these actions.
Idling Enforcement Actions
- MBTA to Spend Millions to Reduce Commuter Train Emissions in Clean Air Act Settlement
- National Car Rental Fined Nearly $500K for Diesel Idling Violations at Logan and Bradley Airports
- School Bus Company to Implement Nationwide Anti-Idling Program and Pay Penalties for Clean Air Act Violations
- Boston-Based Bus Company Agrees To $650,000 Penalty For 234 Violations of the Clean Air Act and Anti-Idling Regulations
- Cash Up in Smoke: Another Bay State Waste Hauler Cited for Idling
- Mass. Furniture Installation Company Fined for Idling Violations
- Waste Hauler Pays $195,000 for Truck Idling in Massachusetts
- Capitol Waste Services, Inc. Pays $107,300 for Excessive Idling
- Mass. Waste Removal Company Faces EPA Penalty for Excessive Truck Idling in Revere
- Bus Companies Will Pay More Than $237,000, Settling Environmental Violations in Three New England States
- Boston-based Bus Company Faces Penalty for Diesel Emission Idling Violations
- Walmart Settles Clean Air Violations with Campaign to Reduce Diesel Pollution
- North Andover Company Cited for Idling Violations Will Pay Fine, Make Improvements to Vehicle Fleet To Reduce Diesel Pollution
- EPA Seeks $60,000 From Two Bus Companies for Excessive Idling at Logan
- EPA Cites 11 Bus Fleet Operators for Idling Violations at Logan
- EPA Issues Violation Notice to MBTA for Idling Violations at Four Bus Stations
Compliance Assistance
EPA NE conducts compliance assistance to encourage fleet and facility operators to comply with New England states' idling limits. We focus our compliance assistance efforts on states where EPA has enforcement authority trade associations, and fleets and locations of special concern. We also respond to complaints and inquiries from citizens and individual fleets/facilities. In addressing an issue, we seek to address the root of the idling problem, and to apply SmartWay fuel-saving technologies and strategies wherever possible.
To report or inquire about excessive idling in a specific location, we encourage you to first contact your state or local environmental agency:
Connecticut
Connecticut DEP – Air Quality Complaint Line at 860-424–3436
Maine
Maine DEP – Air Quality Bureau at 207-287-2437
Massachusetts
City of Boston – Air Pollution Control Commission at 617-635-3850 or Massachusetts DEP – Regional Offices or call the general complaint line at 617-556-1000 or 1-800-VIOLATE
New Hampshire
New Hampshire DES – Air Resources Division at 603-271-1370 or 1-800-498-6868
Rhode Island
Rhode Island DEM – Office of Air Resources at 401-222-2808 or 800-752-8088
Vermont
Vermont DEC – Air Pollution Control Division at 802-241-3840
EPA New England also welcomes idling complaints, requests for technical assistance, and other inquiries. Contact Abby Swaine (swaine.abby@epa.gov or 617-918-1841).