Document GzKQL126b5zQLBwR4BQJyB02m

To: Hupp, Sydney[hupp.sydney@epa.gov] Cc: Michael Merrifield? Person^ ] pete.lee.house@state.co.us[petJ7ho's@stat'.co'.^ Advocate10@bennet.senate.gov[Advocate1 O@bennet.senate.gov]; Billie Stanton [billie.stantonanleu@gazette.com]; laurie_cipriano@bennet.senate.gov[laurie_cipriano@bennet.senate.gov]; megan_taylor@gardner.senate.gov[megan_taylor@gardner.senate.gov]; Pam Zubeck[zubeck@csindy.com]; alex_siciliano@gardner.senate.gov[alex_siciliano@gardner.senate.gov]; adam bozzi@bennet.senate.gov[adam bozzi@bennet.senate.gov] From: i Personal Email/Ex. 6 i Sent: Frf373l727 4:11:37 AM Subject: Will Mr. Pruitt accept Sen. Gardner's Invitation to CO? Dear Sydney Hupp, On March 9, Senator Cory Gardner sent a letter to Mr. Scott Pruitt to invite him to Colorado. A link to the press release and letter is available h Sen. Gardner's website. In the letter Sen. Gardner wrote: "We share the goal of making communities whole from this EPA-born spill. I believe you visiting Southwest Colorado and the EPA conducting a public forum would serve as a great opportunity to hear from these communities directly." Since then, I have made weekly inquiries to Sen. Gardner's state and DC offices as well as to Mr. Pruitt's office directly to ask whether Mr. Pruitt has responded to this invitation and if he would accept. Seems that no one knows the answer. As Mr. Pruitt's scheduler, perhaps you are in the best position to know whether Mr. Pruitt plans to visit Colorado to speak with communities impacted by EPA's decisions directly? As a resident of Colorado, I have concerns about potential plans to reduce the EPA's budget. In my dealing with the EPA regarding local enforcement of sulfur dioxide emissions and environmental justice concerns from an aging and high-volume polluting coal-fired power plant in downtown Colorado Springs, it seemed the EPA workers were already over-burdened and under-staffed. I can hardly imagine that further reducing the budget and staffing would alleviate the EPA's ability to respond, enforce public health protections, or adequately evaluate potential health and environmental impacts from air and water contaminants. Hearing from Mr. Pruitt on how he plans to meet the EPA's core mission of protecting public health and the environment with these profound changes to the EPA would be very valuable to Coloradans who typically consider health and the environment of the utmost importance. Furthermore, perhaps a visit to communities in Colorado directly impacted by irresponsible companies such as the one that abandoned the Gold King Mine or those that continue to endanger neighborhoods and schools by installing oil/gas drilling sites next door would help Mr. Pruitt appreciate the importance of the EPA's mission. 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523B_00004315-00001 We would love Mr. Pruitt to respond to Sen. Gardner's letter and schedule a public visit to Colorado as the Senator requested. A public response would be most appreciated. Thank you for your time, Laura van der Pol Citizen in Colorado Springs, CO 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523B_00004315-00002