Document pp3JgyR7VzLmdKDmQ9JoQYOy7

Message From: Sent: To: Subject: Johansson, Robert - OCE [RJohansson@oce.usda.gov] 10/17/2017 10:41:02 PM Beck, Nancy [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=168ecb5184ac44de95a913297f353745-Beck, Nancy] RE: Pruitt wins Fischer's support for Wehrum after RFS meeting PS. ! Deliberative Process / Ex. 5 I? i__________________________________________________________________________ i R From: Beck, Nancy [mailto:Beck.Nancy@epa.gov] Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 6:30 PM To: Johansson, Robert - OCE Subject: RE: Pruitt wins Fischer's support for Wehrum after RFS meeting Yes!! Nancy B. Beck, Ph.D., DABT Deputy Assistant Adm inistrator, OCSPP P: 202-564-1273 L _______________________________________ .' beck.n 3ncy@ ep3.gov From: Johansson, Robert - OCE [mailto:RJohansson@ oce.usda.gov] Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 6:28 PM To: Beck, Nancy <Beck.Nancy@ epa.gov> Subject: FW: Pruitt wins Fischer's support for W ehrum after RFS m eeting Blast from the past. R From: POLITICO Pro \ mailto:politicoemail@politicopro.coml Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 6:22 PM To: Johansson, Robert - OCE Subject: Pruitt wins Fischer's support for Wehrum after RFS meeting Pruitt wins Fischer's support for Wehrum after RFS meeting By Eric Wolff and Anthony Adragna 10/17/2017 06:18 PM EDT Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) said she would back the nomination of Bill Wehrum to be EPA air chief after meeting with Administrator Scott Pruitt to discuss his recent moves that had angered biofuels supporters in Congress. Pruitt offered no concrete policy promises to the seven Midwestern senators who gathered in Sen. Chuck Grassley's office, according to the lawmakers, but he appeared to ease their fears that he would follow through Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 12 ED 002061E 00001127-00001 on his proposal to reduce EPA's mandates on biodiesel volumes or take other actions to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard. Fischer, who had said earlier Tuesday she was unsure whether she would support Wehrum's nomination, offered her backing after her meeting with Pruitt. "I am," she said, when asked if she planned to vote for Wehrum. In addition to Fischer and Grassiey, the meeting was attended by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Thune (RS.D.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). "The administrator has made the commitment that we'll continue those discussions," Fischer said. "He fully understands the importance to the United States when it comes to biodiesel and biofuel." But Ernst, who like Fischer had said earlier on Tuesday the meeting would determine whether she would support Wehrum to run EPA's air office, which oversees the RFS, appeared skeptical about Pruitt's support for biofuels, and she would not commit to supporting the nominee. "Administrator Pruitt again claimed today that he will not do anything to undermine the program. However, we have heard this before. We now need to see it," she said in a statement. Republicans have only a one-seat edge in the Senate Environment and Public Work Committee and with opposition from Democrats expected, the loss of one vote would sink Wehrum's nomination. Thune, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, said he believed the lawmakers had delivered a clear message about supporting biofuels to Pruitt, who has long been close to the oil industry. "We have a big enough group that is passionate about these issues that I think we can get their attention when we need to," Thune told POLITICO. But Sasse said Pruitt was still in the deliberative process of the rulemaking. "He can't give us any assurances at this stage," he said. Grassley told reporters he reminded Pruitt of President Donald Trump's promise to him in August that he supported corn ethanol. "You can get in the weeds about what you want to do or not do in the way of policy, but this is about a promise the president made," Grassley said. The senators also said they had discussed the possibility of allowing year-round sales of 15 percent ethanol, whether through EPA regulation or through a bill Fischer has proposed. "The administrator can possibly look at it through action within the EPA," Fischer said. "I think legislation is the best way to go." Pruitt brought his top aides to the meeting, including policy office head Samantha Dravis, chief of staff Ryan Jackson, special adviser for air Mandy Gunasekara and the head of intergovernment relations office, Troy Lyons. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 12 ED 002061E 00001127-00002 To view online: https://www.politicopro.com/energy/stoiT/2017/10/pnjitt--wins--fischers--support--for-wehnjm-after-rfs--meeting163514 Was this Pro content helpful? Tell us what you think in one click. Yes. very Somewhat Neiitral Mot really Not at all You received this POLITICO Pro content because your customized settings include: Energy: Fuels; Agriculture: EPA. To change your alert settings, please go to https://www.politicopro.com/settings This email was sent to riohansson@oce.usda.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. 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