S ERV ING THE V I L LA G E S OF : B R EV I G M I SSION CO UN C IL DIOMED E E LI M GAM B E LL GOLOV IN KING I SLA N D KOYUK M AR Y'S IGLOO NOME SAVOO N GA S HA KTOO LIK S H I S HM A REF SOLOMO N STEB B I N S ST. M IC H A EL T ELLE R UNALAKLE ET WALES W H I T E MOUNTA I N**~** cS?"' .!:!>.. .E:l- 

## e:.. J!!>. /!!::> !!!:> T EL: (907) 443-5231 ·F AX : (907) 443 -4452**~** June 25, 2014 Mr. Kevin Schlemmer Chief, EAS and Domestic Analysis Division U.S. Departm e nt of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Air Transportation to non-Eligible Places, Diom ede , Alaska (DM2) Docket DOT-OST-2009-0260 Dear Mr. Schlemmer, This letter is to expres s our support of the continuation of the Essential Air S ervice (EAS) and Air Transportation to No n-Eligible Places (A TNEP) program s in rural Alaska and the crucial connection they bring to Diomed e, Alaska. EAS funding is provided to Kawerak through the State of Alaska as a 50% match to fed e ral funds provided to the D e partment of Transportation for this se rvic e. Thi s is the third year of a three year commitment by the State of Alaska. The n ew funding year begin s Jul y l , 2014 and ends June 30 , 2015. Kawerak i s in the proces s of receiving and signing the grant agreement for this third funding cycle that starts July 1 , 2014. The State of Alaska may continue supporting the service but has yet to approve the budget beyond July 1 , 2015. We are deeply thankful for the past two year s of serv ice w ith Evergreen Helicopters (now Erickson) with passenger fares which were affordable for Diom e d e residents to be able to take trips out for various nee ds. The positive feedback from travelers was overwhelming. Diomede residents were able to go to more medical a ppointments , attend training s, participate in m eetings , do s hoppin g, and even go on vacation s. Fewer re s id ents were stranded in No me or Wales for extended periods of time , and it h ad a huge positive impact on the small community of Wales. More service providers and visitors were able to go to Diomede. Passengers were glad that they were abl e to fly in on th e EAS run on Monday and so metime return on the mail run on Wed. if ther e wa s space avai ! ab le. Kaw e rak appreciate s the safety prec aution s and communications from Erickson's s taff w hen there are weather or mechanical i ss ues. Kawerak unders tand s that neither the EAS nor the ATNEP pro g ra m have conditions th at spec ifie s th e ticket prices th at Erickson 's may charge. We also understand the rising costs of fuel and th e expenses of operating a helicopte r se rvice. However, Kawerak i s concerned that fewer residents will be able to afford the increased rate s which begin July 1 , and beli eve that there will be a red uc ed numb e r of passeng e rs u s ing the se rvi ce this year.Many of the resid e nt s of Di omede a re imp overished and the $800 round trip a irfa re i s beyon d thei r m ean s . Serv ice providers w ill schedule fewe r vis its to Di omede du e to the hi g her co s t and bud ge t constraints. Continued passe n ge r se rv ice is c ritica l to the co mm u n ity of Di o m e de, a nd Ka werak res p e ctf ull y urg es th e 

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. S. DOT to co ntinu e 

### A TNE P serv ice at Di o m ede for the new fu ndin g cyc le w hi ch b eg in s Jul y I , 20 14 and e nd s Jun e 30 , 20 1 5

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S in cere ly, KA W E RAK, INC

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Melanie Bahnk.e Pre s id e nt