OBP005187

From: SELF, JEFFREY D

To: AGUILAR, DAVID V; COLBURN, RONALD S; (b) (6)
Subject: FW: Forum
Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 1:23:37 PM

Chief,

The below is a timeline of events that took place in RGV at the EIS Meeting and Chief Vitiello's Radio
Talk Show.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: (b) (6)
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:26 AM
To: SELF, JEFFREY D
Cc: VITIELLO, RONALD D; (b) (6)
Subject: FW: Forum

Chief,

Good morning. The following details the events at yesterdays EIS public
meeting and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Border Wall protest.

1630 - The EIS public meeting opens for public comment. Overall it went
well without any significant incidents. Only a trickle of winter Texas
showed an interest in the fence that may affect their birding
excursions.

1713 - Chief Vitiello is interviewed by Davis Rankin on KURV Radio. The

interview was positive. The Chief took questions from five callers.

A total of 5 callers (4M/1F) posed questions to Chief Vitiello. Two

callers were for the fencing infrastructure going up to include the
female caller who was a former resident of Granjeno, Tx who had first
hand experience with illegal activity traversing through her property in
Granjeno. Both proponents stated that it is a matter of national
security and that we must protect this country. The (2) opposition
callers mentioned several points. One stated that the fencing
infrastructure did not make any sense being located in some places one
or two miles away from the border. (Chief Vitiello responded that DHS
was bound by the 2006 Secure Fence Act and by the bi-national treaty
with Mexico reference to not obstructing the flood plain (IBWC). The
other caller was upset because DHS was abiding by some treaties with
Mexico (Treaty of Guadalupe/Hidalgo); however, DHS was taking away land
from U.S. citizens on this side of the border. There was one caller
that was undecided mainly concerned about what the fence will be built
out of.

Chief Vitiello answered all questions to the satisfaction of the callers

and left them with a positive outlook on the strategic reason and need
for the fence and future infusion of infrastructure and technology in
RGV.

1730 - The McAllen Chamber of Commerce held their rally in a ballroom

adjacent to the EIS public meeting. At about 1730 the first group of
demonstrators (about 10) arrived with posters and banners chanting and
shouting in an attempt to drown out Greg Gephart who moderated a short
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3-5 minute dialogue. The demonstrators were given approximately 10

minutes of time to continue with their demonstration. The rally reached
a peak at 500 demonstrators, far less than the anticipated number which
had been advertised to be over 2,000.

RGV Staff answered several operational questions from property owners

who were supportive of the fence project.

The media interviewed several members of the public. (b) (6) was
interviewed by a Canadian radio station. There were very few interviews
with other government personnel, USACE or e2M.

1900 - Border Wall protest concludes without incident.

2000 - EIS Public meeting concludes without incident.

Please call should you have any questions.

Thanks,

(b) (6)