Document jN3a6BmbVOXBk1jwmwgKxKNd9

Message From: Sent: To: Subject: Patrick Ness [ Ex. 6 j 10/5/2017 4:33:25 AM Press [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=b293283291dc44eOb5dlc36be9281d8a-Press] Michael Dourson Article Question To Whom It May Concern, I am writing this to express my curiosity as to why someone at th EPA wrote an arti cle enti tled "Wi despread Prai se for D r . Mi chael Dourson" and why the EPA would al 1ow thi s arti cle to be posted on our government website. Although I could dive into opinions on th nomi nati on of D r . Dourson, that is not my concern. Instead, my focus here is to question the purpose of thi s arti cl e . It seems like a waste of time for the EPA itself to want to release any sort of endorsement of a nominee for any posi ti o n , especi ally when the person was nomi nated by the presi dent and not necessarily from the EPA. Why not al1ow the process to take pi ace before needi ng to make any sort of press release? In addi ti o n , the high accolades and referenced comments wi thi n the arti cl e seem somewhat nonsensi cal . How does someone who barely met Dourson at a Chri sti an retreat have any sort of idea as to whether thi s person would perform well and protect the public as the Head of Chemical Safety and Pol 1ution Prevention? Additionally, havi ng Chri sti an based fai th is not a job quali fi cati on for such a posi ti o n . Sci ence helps determi ne risk assessment and what is best for the public- not reli gi o n , opi ni o n s , poli ti cal party affi1iati o n , monetary endorsements, or endorsements from camp di rectors or chemi cal companies. I could conti nue wi th numerous other comments about how awkward I fi nd thi s arti cle on our government's website. Contacti ng the EPA is not something I typical 1y think about doing, so that should be evi dence enough of how strange I fi nd thi s . As an Archi tectural Designer who practi ces wi th a great sensitivity to current envi ronmental issues, I have been extremely concerned about the changes to the EPA si nee the electi on- ineludi ng the nomi nati on of Scott Pruitt to head the department. The number of people wi th extremely questionable backgrounds (when it comes to envi ronmental protection) that have been given top positi ons in such an important organi zati on is immensely al armi n g . Seei ng a somewhat unnecessary arti cl e wi th a strangely posi tive tone for a not-yet elected nomi nee on our government websi te evokes a si mi 1arly di sturbi ng feeli n g . If it's safe to assume that the department takes a ri gorous approach to keepi ng Arne ri can ci ti zens safe, then I mi ght ask the department to consi der evaluati ng websi te content wi th a si mi 1ar appr oa ch. Thank you for taki ng the ti me to revi ew my concerns, Patri ck Ness Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 13 ED 002061 00024601-00001