TRANSCRIPT

Hunter: No, they will be accompanying the group that goes up to the Marvelous Millsite and also accompany the other group. [bug and plant and geology people]

Rick: There will be armed rangers with both groups?

Hunter: Yes, that’s right.

Rick: How many?

Hunter: I don’t think we have made up our mind.

Rick: Have you contacted any outside agencies?

Hunter: Yes. The United States Marshall Service, the FBI, the state of Alaska.

Rick: State Troopers?

Hunter: State Troopers. Now, we have talked to them about what we are doing. We are not necessarily asking them to come with us, we have just talked to them.

Rick: I’m talking about guns up the creek.

Hunter: No, no

Rick: You have not contacted anybody to bring a SWAT team up?

Hunter: No...what we have done is we have told those other federal agencies what we are up to, we have invited them to accompany us if they feel like they need to, I don’t see that we would get that kind of...there is no, indication that that is going to happen. (Inaudible)

Rick: Well, there is some indication that it will happen. [Pilgrim had gotten an anonymous phone call warning of a SWAT team being assembled by NPS. Hunter did not know about the call]

Hunter: What will happen?

Rick: That there is a SWAT team...

Hunter: Well, there is a Park Service team we call a Special Events Team. We use them when we need a group of folks who have practiced together.

Rick: Special Events Team? And they are going up?

Hunter: uh huh.

Rick: How many is there?

Hunter: Between 6 and 8.

Keith Rowland: Who is going up to protect the Pilgrims?

Hunter: I don’t think anybody is going to assault the Pilgrims.

Rick: well, this is bizarre. Absolutely bizarre.

Hunter: I agree with you, this is bizarre. If those folks would just come and ask for a permit there would be no problem.

Rick: what else? You got tanks?

Hunter: no tanks

Rick: what else? Special events team, 6 to 8 guys, SWAT type guys.

Hunter: they’re not SWAT type guys. We don’t have a swat team. I told you what they are, they are a special events team. They are people who work together to provide crowd control and that type of thing.

Rick: why? These are peaceful people with little children, Hunter. Are you guys trying to have another Ruby Ridge?

Hunter: No.

Rick: Well, it sure looks like it.

Hunter: well, if I recall the document they sent us, it said we could not trespass. Now, if we get up there, and BLM can do the survey, then there is no need for all of this.

Rick: you said, “all they have to do, is come and talk to us.” So they did.

Hunter: no they haven’t come and talked to us. I have never spoken to any of those people.

Rick: Excuse me Hunter, they did come and talk to you through Keith Rowland, through a representative..

Hunter: That’s not talking to us. That’s bringing somebody else. No, you’re telling me they are talking, they are not. You are putting words in my mouth. They are not talking to us, they are sending us messages but they are not talking to us.

Keith : they wanted to talk with Fran Mainella and you are not Fran Mainella, it is the same situation.

Hunter: Well, I don’t think it is.

Rick: Well, we are wasting our time, apparently. They tried to communicate with you, through your agent, which is perfectly legitimate.

Hunter: And we communicated back.

Rick: You did, and you basically told them “we are going to do what we want to do...”

Hunter: we are going to do what the law says we can do which is to survey the property to find our mutual boundaries. And let me tell you, we had asked for this over a year ago, we sent them a message asking for this. There is no need, you say, for all of this. We have not been getting that kind of cooperation from them. They have consistently (inaudible.)

Rick: How do you live with yourself, Hunter?

Hunter: I don’t need to be insulted by you. (Picks up papers and walks off.)