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House Democrats seek investigation into USPS mail truck contract



WASHINGTON – Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking an investigation into a US Postal Service plan to replace its old mail. vans with most gasoline-powered vehicles.

Plan for the most part ignore White House calls to supplement the mail service team with tram and has come under fierce criticism from the Biden administration, Democratic lawmakers and environmentalists, who say it falls far short of President Joe Biden‘S goals to address climate change.

In a letter Monday, Democrats on the oversight panel asked the agency’s inspector general to investigate whether the Postal Service was complying with the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws when it 10-year contract to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense Company to supply up to 165,000 new aircraft. mail truck.

Only 10% of initial orders will be for electric vehicles; The remaining 90% will use traditional gasoline engines.

The I have to go to school every dayThe White House Council on Environmental Quality and “multiple environmental stakeholders” have raised concerns that the Postal Service is not meeting its NEPA obligations in issuing contracts, lawmakers said in a statement. a letter to Tammy WhitcombInspector General of the Postal Service.

“Given substantial public interest in this acquisition and significant defects” in the environmental analysis identified by EPA and the White House, “it is important for Congress to understand whether the Postal Service is meeting its statutory environmental obligations,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter was signed by five Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York, the chair of the panel, and Gerry Connolly of Virginia, who chairs a subcommittee on government operations.

Lawmakers said they strongly support the purchase of electric vehicles for the Postal Service’s fleet, saying it would “dramatically cut the bill” emissions and position the Postal Service as an “environmental leader” in the United States

A spokesman said the inspector general’s office received the letter Monday and is reviewing it.

The Postal Service has awarded Oshkosh Defense a 10-year, $11 billion contract to replace its fleet of 230,000 vehicles. The company said it will build Next Generation Delivery Vehicles at a reconfigured warehouse in South Carolina, creating 1,000 new jobs.

The Postal Service said last month that it believes it has met all of its obligations and is moving forward despite widespread criticism.

The agency has “carefully reviewed and aggregated the responses” from the EPA and the White House regarding the new contract and believes there is “no legal or other basis for delaying the program (replacement vehicle). ),” said spokesman Kim Frum.

The new contract will deliver 5,000 electric vehicles starting in 2023, Frum said, and “provide significant environmental benefits through the introduction of safer and more environmentally friendly vehicles.” he added.

In their letter, the legislators cited a range of concerns raised by the EPAincluding allegations that the contract was awarded before the environmental review was completed and that the Post Office omitted important data on climate change and other issues in completing the assessment.

The USPS assessment “underestimates greenhouse gas emissions” of the new fleet, “does not consider more viable alternatives in terms of environmental protection, and does not adequately consider impacts on communities.” community has concerns about environmental justice,” the EPA said in February. 2 alphabet.

The EPA calls the proposal “an important lost opportunity for faster reductions.” carbon emissions of one of the largest government fleets in the world. ” The mail service fleet includes more than 230,000 vehicles, nearly a third of the total federal government fleet.

The new car greener than current models, which have been in use for three decades or more, but most will run on gasoline.

Adrian Martinez, an attorney for environmental group Earthjustice who has urged the Biden administration to force the Postal Service to suspend or delay the contract and develop an eco-friendly plan, said an electrified fleet of trains would saving about 135 million gallons of fuel per year. .

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Republican donor and ally of former President Donald Trump, has said that producing 10% EVs is the best the Post Office can do, given “provided bad finances”. DeJoy says an additional $3.3 billion will be needed to move the entire USPS fleet to battery power.

Decision of the Post Office conflict with Biden’s goals to convert all federal government vehicles to zero emissions by 2035. The post office is controlled by a board of governors and does not take orders from the president. Biden has nominated two people to serve on the board, but they have yet to be confirmed, leaving the board under the control of the Republican chairman, Roman Martinez.

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