This will allow some mail carriers to be on delivery routes next year, despite opposition from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, said that the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act's evaluation is an important milestone. This was for postal carriers who have continued to work with the overworked trucks that were in service from 1987 to 1994.
The U.S. The U.S. Postal Service has more than 230,000 vehicles. This includes 190,000 local delivery cars that will be replaced.
"The men, women and children of the U.S. DeJoy stated in a statement that the Postal Service has waited too long for safer and cleaner vehicles.
Environmental groups opposed the plan because only 10% would be powered by electric motors under the contract between the Postal Service and the manufacturer, Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defence.
Kim Frum, spokesperson for the Postal Service, stated that the Federal Register decision allows the Postal Service the right to place the first order. This will include at least 5k electric-powered vehicles and an unknown number of gas-powered cars.
The Postal Service believes that it has fulfilled all its obligations. Despite criticisms from the Environmental Protection Agency about the quality of the environmental review, the Postal Service is continuing to move forward.
Vicki Arroyo (EPA's assistant administrator for policy) stated Wednesday that the Postal Service had conducted a flawed environmental analysis one year after signing the contract to procure the vehicles. It underestimated the cost of gasoline-fueled vehicles, and overestimates electric vehicle costs.
Brenda Mallory is the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She criticized the Postal Service for being "out of touch with technology" and putting it at a disadvantage to its competitors.
The criticism was also shared by environmental groups.
The leaders of the U.S. will not be stopped by rain, sleet or financial good judgment. The Postal Service will continue to purchase dirty and polluting delivery vehicles," Patricio portillo, Natural Resources Defense Council, stated Wednesday.
DeJoy, a former ally to President Donald Trump, stated that more electric vehicles could be purchased under the contract if additional funding is available "from either congressional or internal sources."
Converting the entire fleet of Postal Service vehicles to electric cars would add $3.3 billion. Biden's Build back Better plan includes money, but the proposal is still stalled in Congress.
These new vehicles are more eco-friendly and offer modern safety features such as climate control, backup cameras, and collision avoidance -- which were all lacking in the Grumman Long Life Vehicles.
Postal carriers can also grab parcels and packages that were previously making up a greater percentage of their deliveries before the pandemic. The taller vehicles make it easier to pick them up.
