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U.S. Department of 

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Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

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Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

SEP 0 9 2Q11 

Mr. Herb Thomson 

Director, Bureau of Transportation Systems Planning 

Maine Department of Transportation 

16 State House Station 

Augusta, ME 04333-0016 

Dear Mr. Thomson: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submitted by the 

Aubum-Lewiston Municipal Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond on his behalf ~ 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

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

awards each year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. 

In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 1, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 2. As these grant requests are 

pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the 

merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will give 

full consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2011-0119 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

firee to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

>usan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
STAT E O F MAIN E 

DEPARTMEN T OF TRANSPORTATIO N 

16 STAT E HOUS E STATIO N 

AUGUSTA , MAIN E 04JJ3-0P1 6 

Paul R. LePage Oavid Bernhardt 

GCVERNOP COMMISSIONER 

July 22,2011 

Hon. Raymond L. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Subject: Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

The Maine Department of Transportation supports the Aubum - Lewiston's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program Grant Application. Given the expected 

growth at this airport and the tasks that have been undertaken to pursue Commercial 

Service, I believe that funding from this grant would clearly benefit the region. The 

Department recognizes the strong community support for this airport and over $1 million 

in local money has been spent to date to prepare for certification. 

We wish the Auburn - Lewiston Municipal Airport the best of luck in their efforts 

to compete for the grant. Please feel free to contact Peggy Duval with any questions or 

comments by phone at (207) 624-3300 or by email at margaret.duval@jnaine.gov. 

Sincerely, 

^ ^ /K^ P 

Herb Thomson 

Director 

Bureau of Transportation Systems Planning 

Maine Department of Transportation 

cc: Richard Cloutier, Airport Manager 

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THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION - EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

PHONEi <2O7)(S24-3O0O TTY 888-3 I6.9J64 FAXi (207) 624-3001