U.S. Department of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary OfTransportation

The Honorable LisaMurkowski United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Murkowski: - -t 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter supportingthe application submitted by the communities ofAngoon, Elfin Cove, Pelican, Tenakee Springs, and Kake for a grant underthe U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller 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 four awards maybe 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 can be funded. On June 24, the Department issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 26 for applications. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure youthat the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have beenproperly filed. As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,LISA MURKOWSKI ALASKA COMMITIEES: ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES RANKING MEMBER APPROPRIATIONS HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS INDIAN AFFAIRS

Brooke Chapman Associate Director 

# ilnitcd**~tatcs ~cnatc**  WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0203 (202) 224-6665 (202) 224-5301 FAX July 19,2013

Small Community Air Service Development Program U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Ms. Chapman, 510 L STREET, SUITE 600 ANCHORAGE, AK 99501-1956 (907) 271-3735 101 12TH AVENUE, ROOM 329 FAIRBANKS, AK 99701-6278 (907) 456-0233 800 GLACIER AVENUE, SUITE 101 JUNEAU, AK 99801

(907) 586-7277 805 FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 105 KENAI, AK 99611-9104 (907) 283-5808 1900 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 225 KETCHIKAN, AK 99901-6059 (907) 225-6880 851 EAST WESTPOINT DRIVE, SUITE 307 WASILLA, AK 99654-7142 (907) 376-7665

I am writing to express my support for a grant application submitted to the U.S. Department ofTransportation by the communities ofAngoon, Elfin Cove, Pelican, Tenakee Springs, and Kake for the Small CommunityAirService Development Grant Program. This consortium ofAlaskan communities is requesting a grantto supporttheir goal of increasing ridership onEssential Air Service routes in Southeast Alaska. To achieve this goal, the Consortium plans to initiate a new marketing campaigntargeting potential visitors that will advertise thetourism and leisure activities offered inthe region. By improving awareness ofavailable aviation services, the Consortium hopes to reach its goal oflong-term sustainability oflocal air service.Consistentwith all relevantrules, laws,andregulations, Irespectfully request that you give all due considerationto the application submittedby this consortium ofcommunities. Thank you fot' the opportunity to bring this to your attention. Sincerely,

Lisa Murkowski United States Senator

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