To: Cc: From: Sent: Subject:
Bowman, Liz[Bowman.Liz@epa.gov];Wilcox, Jahan[wilcox.jahan@epa.gov] Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov]; Pace, Julie[JPace@ap.org] Biesecker, Michael Thur 8/10/2017 11:14:05 PM RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Sony, not seeing a link
From: Bowman, Liz [mailto:Bowman.Liz@epa.gov] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 7:14 PM To: Biesecker, Michael; Wilcox, Jahan Cc: Jackson, Ryan; Pace, Julie Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Here is a link to our release on the event, which includes photos you are welcome to use for your article.
From: Bowman, Liz Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 7:10 PM To: 'Biesecker, Michael' <MBiesecker@ap.org>; Wilcox, Jahan <wilcox ,jahan@epa.gov> Cc: Jackson, Ryan <jackson,ryan@epa.gov>; 'Pace, Julie' <JPace@ap.org> Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
You can also add that: "This bipartisan event with the community's farmers - which included North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, U.S. Senator John Hoeven, U.S. Congressman Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, a representative from U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's office, and other state officials - was closed to the press so people can contribute without worrying about reporters in the room and how they may characterize their contributions."
Thanks - Liz
From: Bowman, Liz Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 5:54 PM To: 'Biesecker, Michael' <MBiesecker@ap.org>; Wilcox, Jahan <wilcox jahan@epa.gov>
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Cc: Jackson, Ryan <jackson ,ryan@epa.gov>; 'Pace, Julie' <JPace@ap.org> Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Here's our on the record response, which you can attribute to me: "The AP should be reporting on this week's news, like the Administration fulfilling its commitment to reinstate the midterm evaluation of fuel economy and GHG standards for cars and light trucks, or EPA's cooperative federalism approach to finding the best strategy for the safe disposal of coal ash in each state not attacking our hard-working staff for a miscommunication between two government offices."
From: Biesecker, Michael [mailto:MBiesecker@ap.org] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 5:37 PM To: Wilcox, Jahan <wilcox jahan@epa.gov> Cc: Jackson, Ryan <jackson.ryan@epa.gov>; Bowman, Liz <Bowman.Liz@epa.gov> Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Jahan,
Still not gotten a response to the prior questions.
One other thing I'd like to clear up: You characterized the reporters as "individuals that were not invited came to the event."
AP spoke with the office of ND Gov. Doug Burgum, which said there was in fact a notice sent to local media inviting them the attend a 15-minute open session at the end of the round table. The governor's staff told AP: "That was a misunderstanding between our office and Administrator Pruitt's office. We were later informed (by Pruitt's office) it would be closed."
Why did EPA request to close the round table to the press?
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Please provide on-the-record response this time.
Thanks,
Michael
From: Biesecker, Michael Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 4:41 PM To: 'Wilcox, Jahan'; Pace, Julie Cc: Jackson, Ryan; Bowman, Liz Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Jahan,
Just to clarify, so I can make sure I understand, when you write "we were asked to refer them to security." By "security," are you referring to the university's police department? And by "we," do you mean EPA staff called police?
Thanks,
Michael
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From: Wilcox, Jahan fmailto:wilcox.jahan@epa.gov] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 4:36 PM To: Biesecker, Michael; Pace, Julie Cc: Jackson, Ryan; Bowman, Liz Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Off-the-record, what is inaccurate is your assertion that reporters were threatened with arrest for trying to access a round-table meeting. Law enforcement at the University of North Dakota declared the area as private property, which was accurately reported and when individuals that were not invited came to the event, we were asked to refer them to security.
From: Biesecker, Michael [mailto:MBiesecker@ap.org] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 4:21 PM To: Wilcox, Jahan <wilcox,jahan@epa.gov>; Pace, Julie <JPace@ap.org> Cc: Jackson, Ryan <jackson,ryan@epa.gov>; Bowman, Liz <Bowman.Liz@epa.gov> Subject: RE: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Jahan,
We are simply trying to ascertain what happened.
The newspaper reported:
When two Herald reporters went to the EERC before the start of the event, they were asked by representatives ofPruitt to leave the grounds before EPA. spokesman Jahan Wilcox threatened to call police, whom he referred to as "security."
A UND Police officer then arrived to insist the building and its grounds were private property before demanding the reporters move away from the center's front door. An officer had earlier told, a pair ofprotesters the same thing, asking them, to cross a road awayfrom the center. The EERC is not private property and is owned by UND.
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Is any of that erroneous?
Also, I'm not sure how AP was supposed to report on Pruitt's meeting when it was closed press. I'm also not aware that I received any notice or readout from the event. Did you guys send me something that I missed?
Thanks,
Michael
From: Wilcox, Jahan fmailto:wilcox.jahan@epa.gov] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 4:08 PM To: Pace, Julie; Biesecker, Michael Cc: Jackson, Ryan; Bowman, Liz Subject: FW: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Julie Off-the-record, why didn't the national AP reporter write on our trip to Iowa, North Dakota, Texas to talk directly with people about EPA regulations - or EPA's announcements today on CCR or MTE - major policy and environmental announcements. Rather than focus on news, he is fixating on us. Also, our event yesterday at the University of North Dakota was closed press and the host of the event said it was private property as stated by both the local police and the officials at UND. I'm a little confused how Michael believes someone was "threatened" with arrest when the story clearly states I referred to security at the event. No mention of arrest or police was ever stated or reported.
"When two Herald reporters went to the EERC before the start of the event, they were asked by representatives of Pruitt to leave the grounds before EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox threatened to call police, whom he referred to as `security.' A UND Police officer then arrived to insist the building and its grounds were private property before demanding the reporters move away from the center's front door. An officer had earlier told a pair of protesters the same thing, asking them
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to cross a road away from the center. The EERC is not private property and is owned by UND." http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4310124-epa-chief-pruitt-holds-series-closed-doormeetings-gf-fargo?wpisrc=n@energy202&wpmm=l
Please let me know if you are writing on this and need an on the record statement.
From: Biesecker, Michael [mailto:MBiesecker@ap.org] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2017 3:46 PM To: Wilcox, Jahan <wilcox,jahan@epa.gov>; Bowman, Liz <Bowman.Liz@epa.gov> Subject: Pruitt North Dakota visit
Liz, Jahan,
AP is following up on reports about Pruitt's visit to N.D. yesterday, where Jahan is reported to have threatened reporters from the Grand Forks Herald with arrest for trying to access a round table meeting held at a public university.
Does EPA dispute any of the Herald's account of what occurred? If so, please provide details.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4310124-epa-chief-pruitt-holds-series-closed-doormeetings-gf-fargo?wpisrc=n@energy202&wpmm=l
Thanks,
Michael
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