Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. DeJoy

On January 30, 2024, the federal district court for the Southern District of New York so-ordered the dismissal without prejudice of a lawsuit brought by Natural Resources Defense Council and the UAW labor union asserting that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in connection with the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles program to replace its fleet. The plaintiffs agreed to the dismissal of the lawsuit after USPS conducted supplemental environmental review and <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-27098">increased</a> the percentage of electric vehicles to be procured from 10% to 62% of the total number of vehicles to be acquired.

Natural Resources Defense Council and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the Southern District of New York alleging that the U.S. Postal Service failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in connection with its Next Generation Delivery Vehicles program, which would replace the Postal Service’s fleet with up to 90% internal combustion vehicles and at least 10% electric vehicles. The plaintiffs alleged that the Postal Service violated NEPA by awarding a contract and issuing a task order prior to initiating the NEPA review. They also asserted that the Postal Service failed to analyze reasonable alternatives and failed to take a hard look at environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions.