Document emX0mQK0vK4k5Dqv8yzVgmdme

To: I Ex. 6 - Personal Privacy i From: Hupp, Milian Sent: Thur 5/11/2017 9:23:30 PM Subject: FW: DRAFT: Our Weekly Recap For Tomorrow Morning 05.12.17 - Weekly Recap.docx From: Wilcox, Jahan Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 4:29 PM To: Hupp, Sydney <hupp.sydney@epa.gov>; Hupp, Millan <hupp.millan@epa.gov> Cc: Jackson, Ryan <jackson.ryan@epa.gov>; Freire, JP <Freire.JP@epa.gov>; Bowman, Liz <Bowman.Liz@epa.gov>; Konkus, John <konkus.john@epa.gov>; Graham, Amy <graham.amy@epa.gov>; Ferguson, Lincoln <ferguson.lincoln@epa.gov> Subject: DRAFT: Our Weekly Recap For Tomorrow Morning Below and attached is a document that you might want to include in the Administrator's book. Our goal is to send this document out tomorrow morning. EPA's Weekly Round-Up National Stories ... The New York Times reports one of Pruitt's top priorities is to clean up toxic Superfund sites. "Scott Pruitt has directed his regional chiefs to elevate Superfund cleanup efforts to what he describes as their rightful place as the agency's core mission. `I am making it a priority to ensure contaminated sites get cleaned up. We will be more hands-on to ensure proper oversight and attention to the Superfundprogram at the highest levels ofthe agency, and to create consistency across states, ' Pruitt said. " The Washington Examiner reports that Pruitt is working with local leaders to clean-up the East Chicago Superfund site. "Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Friday joined Democrats and Republicans to reaffirm the agency's commitment to communities outside of Chicago hit by high levels of lead contamination. Pruitt had visited the Indiana city of East Chicago last month affected by contamination from a closed lead production facility owned by the firm U.S. Steel that had been designated a Superfund cleanup site by the agency in 2009." The Washington Times reports Pruitt said that Barack Obama was no `environmental savior,' and his administration accomplished nothing. "Mr. Pruitt said the past administration talked a good game on the environment, but has little in the way ofconcrete 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523B_00003287-00001 accomplishments. He pointed to the environmental disaster in Flint, Michigan, and the Gold King Mine spill, both ofwhich led to widespread water contamination. He also said the administration's attempts to rein in carbon emissions were blocked by federal courts, as were other high-profile regulations. At the same time, Mr. Pruitt charged, much of the country remained in non-compliance with federal ozone standards, and the number ofSuperfund sites -- areas contaminated by hazardous waste and identifiedforfederal clean-up efforts -- increased during Mr. Obama's tenure. " The Hill reports that Pruitt was highly critical of the previous administration. "Pruitt was also highly critical ofhis predecessor, naming similar environmentalproblems over the last eight years. `What's so great about that record, ' he asked North Dakota conservative radio host Rob Port, after listing similar statistics about air quality, Superfund and the Flint and Gold King disasters. `I don't quite understand the environmental left when they say that somehow, what the past administration, what was done, was so great. '" The Daily Caller reports that Pruitt said he sued Obama's EPA because they exceeded their statutory authority. "Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said he sued the agency he heads so many times while Oklahoma attorney general because `they exceeded their statutory authority. ' `They deserved it and they deserved it because they exceeded their statutory authority, they exceeded their constitutional authority. '" Additionally, the Daily Caller notes that after Flint, Obama's EPA does not deserve the plaudits it has received. "Pruitt said the former administration does not deserve the plaudits it has received, especially after the EPA's failure to fix Flint's water system. " On Hugh Hewitt, Pruitt set the record straight about false information being circulated about the EPA's Board of Scientific Counselors. "The board ofscientific counselors that we have at the EPA, they serve three year terms. And so those are reviewed every three years. Those same individuals can apply through the competitive process. ... There was no firing that took place. These individuals can apply, will apply, I'm sure, in some instances, and very well could be put back on the board. But it's the right thing to do to ensure transparency, its activity, peer reviewed science and geographical representation on the board. " Need to 'Know Network reports that Pruitt said that Obama's administration used the authority of Washington to walk over the states. "Pruitt said during the interview that the Obama administration used the authority of Washington to walk over the states, and looked at states as mere vessels of federal will. ... Pruitt went on to say that the EPA has restored a focus on "cooperative federalism" and working with the states." To The States ... The Tampa Bay Times reports that Pruitt met with Governor Rick Scott to talk about water issues. "[Governor Rick] Scott popped in for a visit with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to talk water issues. " The Bismarck Tribune reports that the EPA signed a proposed rule that will let North 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA ED_001523B_00003287-00002