U.S. Departmentof Transportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable Mike Simpson U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Simpson: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supportingthe proposal submitted by the Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation'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. Underthe statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In order to 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 order requesting that communities interested inreceiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pendingbefore the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. I assure youthat the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letterhas been sent to each ofyour congressional colleagues. Sincerely yours,

# *~ Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program 

## I

.**~**

IU.S.Departmentof

. Transportation Officeofthe Secretory ofTransportation

The Honorable James E. Risch United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Risch: 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 ·

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supportingthe proposal submitted bythe Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (SunValley) for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation'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 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 order requesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot commentonthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you thatthe Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letterhas been sent to each ofyour congressional colleagues. Sincerely yours,

Aloha Ley Associate Director
· Small Community Program I



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### u.s.Departmentof Transportation Officeofthe Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable Mike Crapo United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Crapo: 

## JUL 

## 52012 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your congressional colleagues, supporting the proposal submitted bythe Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Small CommunityAir 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 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 in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our normal practice, I am placing 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. An identical letter has been sent to each ofyour congressional colleagues. Sincerely yours,

Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community ProgramMike Crapo United StatesSenator 239 Dirksen Senate OfficeBldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 · James E. Risch Unite StatesSenator 483 Russell Senate OfficeBldg. Washington, D.C. 20510

Ms. Aloha Ley June 4, 2012

Associate Director, Small Community Program U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington DC 20590 Dear Ms. Ley: Mike Simpson Member ofCongress 2312 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515

Wewrite in support forthejoint grant application submitted by the Boise Airport and the Friedman Memorial Airport (Sun Valley) to the US Department ofTransportation forfunding under its Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASD). It is our understanding thatthese airports and communities have been disproportionately**affect~d** by recent·changes in the aviation industry and the present economic downturn, •. resulting in a near20% decrease in airline seat capacity in these markets and an equally dramatic increase in the average airfare. Thisjoint proposal seeks to take aggressive action to reverse the current trend in a way that is sustainable by improving hub connectivity and linking both communities. Approval ofthis proposal will provide the funds to cover station startup costs for the service connecting the two communities, provide a financial incentive to a carrier that improves access to the national transportation system by adding a new hub, and leverage the communities' investment in marketing the new service. This effort will fill a demonstrated need for greater seat capacity, improved connectivity and increased travel options. We urge the Department ofTransportation to give this application all due consideration. 

# i0;LOr-**d&~** Mike Crapo United States Senator

# ~~ James E. Risch United States Senator

Mike Simpson Member of Congress