Wal-Mart Will Reduce Truck Idling Under EPA Agreement

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he Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that Wal-Mart Stores will undertake a national effort to reduce diesel truck idling at its 4,000 U.S. facilities, as part of a settlement of clean air violations.

The anti-idling project results from a clean air enforcement action in Massachusetts and Connecticut brought by EPA's New England regional office.

Under the consent agreement, Wal-Mart will also pay a $50,000 penalty, EPA said.

The settlement will result in Wal-Mart training drivers, posting signs at all its facilities, and notifying other delivery companies of its policy to prohibit idling.

The retail giant recently said it wanted to double the efficiency of its truck fleet to an average of 13 mph. (Click here for previous coverage.)

A typical idling truck burns nearly a gallon of fuel per hour, EPA said.

EPA's complaint that trucks were illegally idling at Wal-Mart stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut is the country's first multi-state case that addresses idling violations, the agency said.

"Diesel pollution is a serious problem across the country, especially for those suffering from asthma or other health problems" Robert Varney, EPA’s regional administrator, said in a statement.

Wal-Mart is ranked No. 2 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of North American private fleets. According to company data, it has about 6,750 trucks and 44,500 trailers.