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THE SECRETV\RY OF TRANSPORTTVTION AXlSFORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D,C. 20590 ' :r H OPERATiCMS 

September 09 , 2011 'cn :8 A *s: 2S 

The Honorable Mike Thompson 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Thompson: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Del Norte County Regional 

Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program, 

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 U.S. Department of Transportation may make a maximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than 4 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 

allows significant flexibihty 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 can assure you, however, that the Department will give full consideration to all 

proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, 1 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. Iff can provide further informaUf^jr assistance, please^fireiiree to call me. 
t 

MIKE THOMPSON 

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PERMANENT SELECT 

COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE 

RANKING MEMBER, SuncowMiTTEC ON TRRKORISM. 

HUMAN INTELLIOENCK, ANALYSIS AND 

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SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

WASHINGTON. DC 20515 

August 18,2011 

810-110825-002 

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Secretary Ray LaHood 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear 

LinglOn, UK^ MD)/KJ . ^ 

I am writing to request your full and fair consideration for the Del Norte County Regional Airport's 2011 

Small Community Air Service Development grant submission. The airport serves as a vital link to the 

national air transportation system for the region stretching from southwest Oregon to Northern California. 

The goal of tlie campaign is to increase enplanements and to reduce the per passenger subsidy required 

under the Essential Air Service program in Crescent City, 

The Del Norte County Regional Airport is again experiencing passenger growth, after several tough 

years. However, the airport is barely scratching the surface of its potential. The lack of awareness of the 

airport, and the services offered, is one of the major reasons local passengers don't use their local air 

service. The application from the Del Norte County Regional Airport requests $200,000 to promote the 

airport and its services more effectively in an effort to ensure long-term sustainability of local air service 

in this remote stretch of the Pacific coastline. 

The airport has developed a comprehensive marketing and advertising placement plan, which will include 

the purchase of ads on local and regional radio stations, newspapers and magazines. The campaign will be 

focused in the Crescent City MSA and bordering counties in both Northern California and Southern 

Oregon. Other types of marketing will include new website materials for ease of booking and better 

awareness of flight schedules, with banner ads promoting San Francisco service. The airport also plans 

specific outreach to area businesses, through Del Norte County Regional Airport airport-affiliated 

employees, to meet with those who uravel most fiequently and ensure they are aware of the benefit of 

using local air service. 

I ask that you carefhlly consider the positive impact this project would have on Del Norte County and the 

surrounding region and grant its application full and fair consideration. 

MIKE THOMPSON 

Member of Congress 

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