.,.. Xl-llll0:2-00I 

U.S. Deportment Assistant Secretary ·.: ::·:-: ' ·-. -. -: 

; !• .• ' 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE of Transportation Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretory 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Collin C. Peterson 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Peterson: 

November 21, 2011 

Thank you for your letter supporting the application submitted by the Bemidji Regional Airport 

for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (Small Community 

Program). 

As you may know, the Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities 

address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and poor service. The 

U.S. Department of Transportation (Department) had up to $15 million available for FY 2011 

grant awards. Under the statute, the Department may ·use funds to make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than four may be to the same state. This year, the 

Department received 70 grant applications from communities in 34 states, collectively seeking 

more than $36 million in federal assistance, considerably more than could be accommodated 

under the statute. 

On September 27, the Department announced its grant selections. Given the large number of 

applications and the limitations in the law, it was necessary to make a number ofvezy difficult 

decisions. Unfortunately, the Bemidji Regional Airport was not selected for one of the grant 

awards. However, I assure you that the Department gave full consideration to its proposal. 

As is normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST2011-0119. A copy ofOrder-2011-9-16 may be obtained at the Federal Docket Management 

System (FDMS) website, which is htto://www.regulations.gov. Entering "2011-9-16" into the 

field marked "Enter Keyword or ID" provides access to the full document. 

I appreciate your interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, 

please feel free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
, ~bll~ . C. PETERSON I .. 7TH t .', .. TAtCT, MINNESOTA 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 

RANKING MEMBER 

Mr. J. Randolph Babbitt 

Administrator 

~~~- '"~~~~- ~~\ k. ~ "\ ~ '~ 2211 R4VDUIIH Hous£ Of'ftCt BuJt.DINll -..,L {\ c;;-=(\_~- \..:)(ot:)..,;. '-...:) - .:::::> W~S111NGTON,OC20516 l"-"' ~ TnEI'HONE: 12021225-2165 

.. Xl-111102-001 

FAX: 1202) 225-1593 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNeT: www.house.gov/colllnpeterson 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

WASHINGTON, DC 20515 

September 23, 2011 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

Dear Administrator Babbitt: 

I am writing in support of a Small Community Air Services Development Pilot Program 

Grant application made by Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) located in Bemidji, Minnesota. 

Bemidji Regional Airport has applied for the SCASD Grant in order to establish a travel 

desk at the airport. The objectives of this project are to provide full service transportation 

arrangement and assistance service-for residents, local business and industries, the university, 

local government and all in-bound travelers. 

The addition of this travel desk is intended to increase passenger traffic and lower 

leakage to Minneapolis-Saint Paul which will both help to foster self-sustaining air service. At 

this time, Bemidji Regional Airport serves a population of 120,000 from a sixty mile radius and 

is only served by Delta Airlines and most travel arrangements are made through websites or toll 

free numbers. Creating a travel desk would allow the community to collect data on travel 

. patterns. In tum, this data would be used to market to airlines and set up charter arrangements 

for popular destinations. 

This travel desk would also help build the local economy by serving as the coordination 

point for in bound travelers. Bemidji recently completed work on a convention center and 

sports complex that will serve the entire region. There is also a local international language 

camp that attracts visitors from around the world. The travel desk would facilitate access to the 

community for these visitors. 

Bemidji Regional Airport and the region would benefit greatly from the award of the 

SCASD pilot program grant. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Collin C. Peterson 

Member of Congress 

------------------DISTRICT OFFICES-------------------

714 L4KE AvENUE 

Sum 107 

DETROIT lAKES. MN 56501 

!2161 647-5056 

FAx : 1216) 847·5109 

1420 EAST COUEGE DRIVE 

M4RSHALL, MN 56258 

!5071 537-2299 

FAx : !5071 637·2298 

MN WHEAT Gnowens 8UILD•Na 

2603 WHEAT DRIVE 

RED LAKE FAlLS. MN 56760 

(21 8) 253-4356 

FAX: (2181 253-4373 

CENTllE PoiNT MALL 

320 4TH Srru:ET SW 

WillMAR, MN 5620 1 

1320) 236·1061 

FAX: {3201 235-2651 
U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

OCT 1 8 20\1 

The Honorable Collin C. Peterson 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washlngton, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Peterson: 

X 1-111 1 02-00 I 

Office of Government and Industry 

Affairs 

800 Independence Ave., SN. 

Washington, DC 20591 

Administrator Randolph Babbitt has asked me to respond to your letter regarding your support 

of the grant application of Bemidji Regional Airport in Bemidji, Minnesota into the Small 

Community Air Service Development Pilot Program. 

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) primary responsibilities are aviation safety, 

space efficiency and capacity enhancements. Issues pertaining to entry into the Small 

Community Air Service Development Pilot Program are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. 

Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation and International Affairs. I have forwarded 

you letter to that office at the following address: 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation 

and International Affairs (X-1) 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

I am confident you will receive a prompt response to your concerns. 

Please contact me whenever I may be of assistance at (202) 267-3277. 

t Administrator for 

ent and Industry Affairs