SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is fining refuse hauler Waste Management $27,200 for allowing excessive idling of its trucks at its Stoughton, Taunton and West Boylston depots.

In total, EPA has collected $329,500 in penalties for idling violations from Capitol Waste Services, Allied Waste Services and Waste Management.

Waste Management is the largest solid waste hauling company in the country, serving more than 25 million customers across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

In 2007 and 2008, EPA inspected numerous locations where trucks park in an effort to reduce habitual and systematic idling of fleets, especially in heavily populated areas. Specifically, EPA inspected Waste Management trucks in Attleboro, Sandwich, Stoughton, Taunton, West Boylston and Woburn.

As part of the settlements, Waste Management and Allied Waste have agreed to make operational changes to minimize future idling.

Waste Management has retrained its drivers about the state idling rule and will inspect all its Massachusetts facilities daily.

Allied will train drivers, post signs, inspect yards twice daily and insure that automatic engine shutoff devices are working properly in Brockton, Fall River, Quincy, and Revere - the four Allied locations cited for violations.

Both companies will submit quarterly compliance reports to EPA.