Four Democratic representatives seek IG investigation of TTU glider study

From Transport Topics.

Four House Democrats have asked the Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General to investigate a glider truck study by a Tennessee Tech University researcher. The study already is the subject of a research misconduct investigation by the university.

“Despite conclusions suggesting that glider vehicles emitted similar levels of pollution as conventional vehicles, it now seems clear that from an abundance of publicly available information that the TTU glider study, used by EPA to help justify its proposed glider repeal rule, cannot be trusted,” said a letter sent last month to the EPA Office of Inspector General.

The letter was written by Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Donald Beyer Jr. of Virginia, Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon and Jerry McNerney of California.

The Inspector General already is in the process of conducting an audit of a separate EPA study that was requested by Republican members of Congress. The 2017 EPA study concluded glider trucks can emit 43 times more nitrogen oxides and 55 times more particulate matter than newer trucks in compliance with federal emissions standards.

Glider trucks combine new truck bodies with older and oftentimes rebuilt engines.

See the complete story from Transport Topics online.