U.S. Department ofTransportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Pat Sollars GeneralManager Assistant Secretary 

## AUG 

# 25 2D14

PeabodyEnergy: Twentymile Coal, LLC 29515 Routt CountyRoad 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 Dear

### Mr. Sollars: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, b.C 20590

Thank youfor your letter, addressed to Secretary Foxx, supporting the proposal submitted by Yampa ValleyRegional Airport for a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's. Small Community 

### Air Service DevelopmentProgram. Secretary Foxxaskedthat I respondto youon his behalf. The Small CommunityAir Service DevelopmentProgram was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularlyissues related to high airfares and insufficient service. Underthe statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, althoughno more than four may be to communities 

### in the same State. To provide communities withlatitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofair service developmentprojects that canbe funded. On June 30, the**Dt~partment** issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 31 for applications. 

### As these grantrequests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our standardpractice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter andthis response in Docket DOT-OST -2014-0113 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interestin this progra.!Il. Sincerely yours,

Susan

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

# Pea.I!I!IJI

Twentymlle Coal, LLC

Mr. Anthony Foxx Secretary ofTransportation United States Department ofTransportation 1200New Jersey Avenue, Southeast Washington D.C. 20590 29515 Routt County Road 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 970.879.3800 August 5, 2014

Re: DOT-OST-2014-01.13 Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram 2014 DearMr. Secretary: As one ofthe largest employers in Northwest Colorado, and a major business enterprise, we strongly support the the Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) Grant application of the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, which serves the towns ofSteamboat Springs, Hayden, Craig, and much ofNorthwest Colorado. With the exception ofthe winter ski season, our regional airport and our towns and local area have very limited, expensive, and unreliable air service. With the closest major airport (Denver International) being more than three hours away, the limited air service is both a practical and a financial burden, limiting local businesses and residents. As the Grant application notes, only one airline offers air service from April to December, flight frequencies are limited, and airfares are extremely high, well above typical fares at other Colorado mountain airports, fares from Denver, and national averages. The Airport's Grant application is for a modest $400,000, matched by $300,000 in local funding. The purpose ofthe Grant is to recruit a second airline to provide service outside ofwinter, and thus provide some schedule options and airfare competition in Northwest Colorado outside ofthe peak winter season. The Airport, and Routt County and their community partners, including the City of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, and the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, have a well thought-out plan for recruiting a second carrier, but some community financial support of that carrier will be needed to bring in_new competition, and these local entities are fully engaged to secure that support. · The requested grant and its stated purpose are fully consistent with the purpose and intent ofthe SCASD Grant program, which is intended to aid smallercities withhigher fares and limited competition. We urge you to give this Grant application your fuil and careful consideration. 

### Sincerely,IA- 

# @IJJ

. Pat Sollars General Manager



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