U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation 

## SEP 19 2014 Ms. Kristin Henderson Assistant Secretary

Acting Chair, Los Alamos County Council 1000 Central Avenue, Suite 350 Los Alamos, NewMexico 87544 DearMs. Henderson:**~** . 

## ·.·\2d0**Ne~v** Jersey Avenue. SE ...•**~** Washington. DC 20590

,, ···•.**~**

Thank you for your letterto Secretary ofTransportation Anthony Foxx, supporting Los Alamos' application underthe Air Transportationto Noneligible Places (ATNEP) program. Secretary Foxx asked that Irespond onhis behalf. One ofthe priorities ofthe Departmentis to ensure small and rural communities have adequate access to the national airtransportation system, and I appreciate the concerns raised 

### inyour letter. However, remoteness isjustone ofseveral criteriaenumerated inthe ATNEP statute. I can assure you, however, that Los Alamos' application will be given full and careful consideration by the Department. The Department's action onthis matter is being administeredthrough a public docket, which allows all interestedparties the opportunity to comment. Following our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in docket number DOT-OST-2014-0127. I appreciate your interest inthis matter. Please feel free to contact me ifI canbe offurther assistance.



### S10-140902-012 Sincerely yours, 

# '/(' ;· ?/ -(/ t'

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## ~~"( // J." • · (_."-'" L-- _;;:-./- -' Susan L. Kurland · Assistant Secretary for Aviation and InternationalAffairs

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August28,2014
Anthony Foxx 

# LOSALAMOS COUNTY 1000 Central Avenue, Suite 350 - Los Alamos, NM 87544 Phone (505) 663-1750 Fax (505) 662-8079 Website: I'NNI.Iosalarnosnm.us



### Secretary ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx, COUNTY COUNCIL Council Chair GeoffRodgers Council Vice-Chair Kristin Henderson Councilors Frances M. Berling

Steven Girrens David lzraelevitz

Rick Reiss Pete Sheehey COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Harry Burgess



### This responds to a letterdated August 8, 2014, sent on your behalfby Susan Kurland to Los Alamos County. Let me begin bythanking you for your consideration of our application to participate in the Air Transportation to Noneligible Places (ATNEP) Program (49 U.S.C. 

### § 41736). Chosen for its remoteness in 1948, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was ableto explore and ultimately exploit, the mysteries ofnuclearscience in relative obscurity. However, the very reason the site was selected is now proving to be its millstone. More than once, members of the scientific community have said they prefer not to do business in Los Alamos because its isolated location adds at least one more day oftravel to their itinerary. Los Alamos is located just shy of 100 milesfrom theAlbuquerque Sunport. To some, this may not seem like aterribly long drive to make in orderto access a medium hub airport. Not generally known however is the fact that Los Alamos is located in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. It is 60 miles from the nearest Interstate highway (1-25). More than half ofthe drive to 1-25 is by way ofrural roads with speed limits of 35 mph and 55 mph. Only when one reaches the Interstate in Santa Fe is the traveler able to drive at freeway speeds. Once in Santa Fe, it is only 40 minutes to Albuquerque. Unfortunately, it generally takes an hour to get to that point.



### 510-140902-012As your office considers the merit of Los Alamos' eligibility for consideration in the Air Transportation to Noneligible Places Program, I respectfully request consideration not be lost on the true accessibility of Los Alamos. It is best described by comparing the difference in time it takes to make the commute -- a 2 hour drive versus a 20 minute flight. Together, with a $49 fare, scheduled air service between Los Alamos and Albuquerque is more necessity than luxury. It is cost effective for the government, 

### LANL, the County, and the citizens of Los Alamos County. Again, thank you for your consideration ofour application. Sincerely,

# ~---~~**~· CA__s\··~·-** **-~)** .-\**(~** Kristin Henderson, Acting Chair Los Alamos County Council



### 510-140902..012