University Pulls Back on Pollution Study That Supported Its Benefactor

"WASHINGTON — The president of a Tennessee state university, under fire for an academic study on truck emissions that was paid for by a local trucking company, has asked federal officials to disregard the study, at least for now, in its review of pollution regulations that could benefit the company.

In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, Philip B. Oldham, the president of Tennessee Technological University, warned that “experts within the university have questioned the methodology and accuracy” of the study, and that an investigation was being conducted into its findings.

The letter was dated Monday and sent to Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the E.P.A., as well as Representative Diane Black, Republican of Tennessee, who had pushed Mr. Pruitt and the E.P.A. to approve a change in regulations that would exempt certain heavy-duty trucks from a requirement to install modern emissions control systems."

Eric Lipton reports for the New York Times February 21, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Tennessee Tech Withdraws Industry-Funded Study Used To Back Controversial EPA Truck Rule" (Washington Post)

"EPA Is Taking More Advice From Industry — And Ignoring Its Own Scientists" (Washington Post)

Source: NY Times, 02/22/2018