If they have bypassed the egr cooler, but left egr valve active, its not a clever move.
Granted the egr cooler may be leaking but its job is to cool the exhaust gases before they go back into the inlet.
Egr is only used a low revs though so maybe not a major issue.
I'm doing the write up on egr removal this week, did it last week on my car.
Jas