EPA v. MICHAEL J CONNOLLY & SONS

Case summary

On September 12, 2022, EPA and Michael J. Connolly & Sons, Inc. (MJ Connolly) settled a Clean Air Act (CAA) enforcement action for alleged violations of a federally enforceable antiidling regulation. MJ Connolly is a school bus transportation company that owns and operates fleets of school buses in Massachusetts. A state anti-idling regulation that is part of the Massachusetts state implementation plan (SIP) prohibits motor vehicles from idling unnecessarily for longer than five minutes. MJ Connolly violated this regulation by excessively idling school buses at two of the company's bus yards. Under the settlement agreement, MJ Connolly will adopt various measures to improve anti-idling compliance, including the installation of GPS systems on all of MJ Connolly's school buses to track potential idling violations, the re-programming of the buses' automatic shutoff mechanisms for a five-minute idling limit, and quarterly walk-throughs of MJ Connolly's bus yards by company management to prevent idling while buses are parked there. MJ Connolly will also pay a penalty of $28,500. Exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to serious health conditions like asthma and respiratory illnesses and can worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly.

Defendants (1)

• Michael J. Connolly & Sons, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MICHAEL J. CONNELLY & SONS

  67 ROCKLAND ST, NATICK, TOWN OF, MA, 00000

  Registry ID: 110056359168

• MICHAEL J. CONNELLY & SONS

  67 HIGH PLAIN STREET, SHARON, TOWN OF, MA, 00000

  Registry ID: 110056359159

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MICHAEL J CONNOLLY & SONSentered 2022-09-12

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $28,500

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2022-09-12Final Order Issued
• 2022-09-12Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2022-09-20Enforcement Action Data Entered