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THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20590 

September 09, 2011 

V'RTMENT OF 

'J3P0RTATI0N 

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The Honorable Carl Levin 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Levin: 

Thank you for your letter supporting tlie proposal submitted by the Sawyer International 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 Transponation 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 ser\'ice deficiencies, the statute 

allows 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 gram requests are pending before the 

Department, I am sure you understand that 1 cannot comment on the merits of any particular 

proposal. I can assure you, however, that the Depanment 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 thilf^cord of this matter. I appreci^ your interest in 

this program. If I can provide furthgHty^Kn^ion or assistance, please feelJfe/to call me. 
SlO-110823-005 

' CARL LEVIN ABMEOSIfiVflCES 

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Russ£uS£H*n»f«SBo,i«NO SMAU BUSINESS 

WASMiWtroN. DC 20610-3202 (^l' % Mii*.- , J Ol ^ *.im4.^ ^ £2r<*M/««- » INTEUIGENCE 

1202) 224-6221 lanitEd States Senate 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2202 

August 3,2011 

The Honorable Raymond LaHood, Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to express my support for the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Grant application submitted by Sawyer International Airport. 

Located in Marquette County, in Michigan's rural Upper Peninsula, Sawyer International Airport 

is requesting fiinds to establish direct air service between Marquette and Lansing. Offering air 

service options to rural commimities in the Upper Peninsula region and tlwoughout the country is 

vital to economic development, conunerce and tourism. Presently, road travel from the region to 

Lansing is time-consuming and more treacherous to travelers during the long winter months. 

This planned route will expedite travel to our capital city and enhance economic development in 

our state. I support the efforts of Sawyer International Airport to expand air service between 

Marquette and Lansing. 

I trust you will give this application every consideration for funding. I would like to be informed 

as to the timetable for processing these applications and of the disposition of this application in 

particular. Please address your response to my Escanaba office at the address and telephone 

number shown below. 

Sincerely, 

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Carl Levin 

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