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The Attorney General for the District of Columbia (“AG”) filed a December 10th Complaint for Violation of Engine Idling Regulations (“Complaint”) against Greyhound Lines, Inc. (“Greyhound”) in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia alleging violations of the:
. . . Onroad Engine Idling and Nonroad Diesel Engine Idling regulations, 20 District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (“DCMR”) § 900.1 et seq. (“Idling Regulations”).
The Complaint alleges Greyhound allowed buses to idle at Union Station for longer than the legal limit.
The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General and Department of Energy and Environment jointly investigated the matter.
The Complaint alleges that on at least 50 occasions over five days in October and November of 2018 Greyhound busses idled at Union Station emitting vehicle exhaust pollution in violation of the Idling Regulations. Subsequent violations are alleged.
The Idling Regulations are stated to have been put in place to reduce vehicle emissions. Such emission are stated to be the largest source of air pollution in Washington, D.C.
The Idling Regulations prohibit gasoline or diesel-powered motor vehicle engine idling for more than three minutes except for:
- Private passenger vehicle operation;
- Operating power takeoff equipment such as cement mixers or refrigeration systems
- Idling for more than five minutes when the temperature is below 32 degrees
- Operating warming buses during cold emergencies
The Complaint asks that the Court:
- Permanently enjoin Greyhound from violating District of Columbia Air Pollution Control law and regulations issued pursuant to that law including the Idling Regulations
- Award appropriate civil penalties
- Award costs of the action and reasonable attorneys’ fees
A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.
