U.S.Departntentof Transportation Offteeofthe Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable Ron Wyden United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Wyden: 

### JUL 2 7

## 2012 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by Eastern Oregon Regional Airport for a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Servic.e Development Program. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to helpsmaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofprojects that canbe funded. OnMay 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested inreceiving a grant this year file their applications byJune 1

### i. As these grant requests are pendingbefore the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. I assure youthat the Departmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in

. this program. Sincerely yours,

# ~Wl:>

· AlohaLey 

# a Associate Director Small Community ProgramRONWYDEN COMMITTEES: OREGON

223 DIRKSEN SENATE OFACE BUILDING WASHINGTON. DC 20510 

# tinitrd**~tatrs ~rnatr**  COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMmEE ON PUBUC LANDS AND FORESTS SPECIAL COMMmEE ON AGING (202) 224-5244 (202) 224-1280 (fDD) WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3703 SELECT COMMITTEE ON lNTEWGENCE COMMITTEE ON ANANCE July 18, 2012


### Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 Ms; Aloha Ley Associate Director, Small Community Program US Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20303 DearMs. Ley: I am writing in support ofthe grantproposal submittedby Eastern Oregon Regional Airport for $50,000 inmarketing funds under the Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD). As the· only facility innortheast Oregon with scheduled air service, Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton is a critical component ofthe overall transportation infrastructure inthe region. These flights provide access for rural citizens and business travelers to services and meetings in the Portland metropolitan area, as well as offering connectivity to the national air transportation system. Furthermore, connecting flights between Pendleton, Portland and other areas provide a significant economic benefitto the region as visitors are drawn to attractions and events such as the Pendleton Round-Up and Tamasklit Cultural Institute. Scheduled service at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport ensures year-round access to these unique attractions. This grant proposal requests marketing funds to increase awareness andridership on service that is subsidized under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. The community'splan is to increase airport utilization so these subsidies canbe reduced over time. I would greatly appreciate your consideration ofthe Eastern Oregon Regional Airport SCASD proposal. Please contact Kathleen Cathey in myLa Grande office at 541-962-7691 ifyouhave any questions.

911 NE 11TH AVENUE SUITE 630 PORTLAND, OR 97232-4169 (503) 326-'7525 405 EAST 8TH AVE SUITE 2020 EUGENE. OR 97401 (541) 431-0229 Sincerely

Ron Wyden
·United States Senator

SAC ANNEX BUILDING U.S. COURTHOUSE 105 AR ST 310 WEST 6TH ST SUITE 201 ROOM 118 LA GRANDE, OR 97850 MEDFORD, OR 97501 (541) 962-7691 (541) 858-5122 HTIP:/ !WYDEN.SENATE.GOV PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER THE Jf\!v<JSON BUILDING 131 NW HAWTHORNE AVE SUITE 107

,, BEND, OR 97701

(54,)) 330-9142 707 13THSf, SE SUITE285 SALEM, OR 97301 (503) 589-4555