THE STATE 

of 

August 27, 2012 

Mr. Dennis J. DeVany 

Chief, EAS and Domestic Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Essential Air Service for Diomede, Alaska (DM2) 

DOCKET DOT -OST -2009-0260 

Dear Mr. DeVany, 

Department of Transportation and 

Public Facilities 

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER 

P.O. Box 196900 

Anciloroqe, Almko 99519-6900 

Moin: 907.269.0730 

Fox: 907.269.0489 

U1 

I am very pleased to provide comments to Essential Air Serviee.(EAS) regarding air service at Diomede, 

Alaska. Due to the isolated location of this island community in the Bering Straits and the complete 

lack of any road connection or scheduled transportation, subsidized air. service would be the only form 

of reliable transportation to the mainland. As you know Diomede is perhaps one of the most remote 

communities in the United States, but ironically is not eligible to use the Basic Essential Air Service 

program because they did not have scheduled air service when the EAS program was created. Still 

Diomede is able to participate in the Air Transportation to Non-eligible Places program, which requires 

50% match funding. The State of Alaska appropriated $200,000~00 in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget as 

grant match funding for Diomede to participate in the program, which has been used by only three 

communities nationally since the EAS program was created 34 years ago. It has been a challenging 

problem and a longprocessto find a solution to have reliable access for the community of Diomede. 

Normally the Alaska Department ofTransportation & Public Facilities would not provide specific 

comments on air carrier selection or routing structure to EAS. But given the fact the State of Alaska is 

providing 50% match funding to subsidize this air service, I think it is appropriate that we provide input 

to the EAS selection process and contract particulars. 

You sent an email to my office on August 10, 2012 that said in part: 

One of the.proposals that we received was for boat service from Umiaq Services. Upon 

receiving the boat proposal; we Vllenno the Department's Office of General Counsel to 

request a ruling on whether boat service could be subsidized under the "Essential AIR 

Service (EAS) program. The short answer is that OGC ruled that the EAS statutes do not 

permit our subsidizing boat service, so that is no longer an option for your consideration. 

"Get Alc:ska service and 
. Therefore it is my understanding EAS has crnly one proposal under review, which was submitted by 

Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. I understand they propose to fly a four-leg itinerary once a week for 44 

weeks under the EAS contract: Nome-Diomede, Diomede-Wales, Wales-Diomede, and Diomede-Nome. 

While I think this creative routing structure maxiri1izes community access given the funding constraints, 

the proposal assumes an ice runway would be available-for eight weeks during the winter. 

l.am concerned about the possibility the ice runway might not form this year, and I think there needs to 

be a contingency plan for that possibility. Indeed Evergreen Helicopter, Inc.'s proposal states 

"Additional service may be provided with the remaining subsidy f\mding, or if there were instances in 

which flight legs were cancelled due to weather." l think this is a good idea as there will surely be times 

when they will not be able to fly because of arctic weather conditions. Therefore I suggest the contract 

specify that if Evergreen is not able to fly during a particular week for some reason, then Evergreen 

should be required to f1y the routing later in the year. That is to say, if the ice runway does not form 

then Evergreen would fly during that time. Regardless, I suggest that Evergreen be required to fly at 

least 44 weeks in total. 

Please note that the funds are from the operating fund in this year's budget and are available fl·om July l, 

2012 to June 30, 2013. Given \Ve are now in week eight of our fiscal year, t1ying at least once a week 

tor 44 weeks per the Evergreen proposal should not be an issue as there are only 44 weeks left in the 

State's fiscal year. This should be enough flights to fly even if the ice runway does not form this year. 

I respectfully urge US DOT to sign the EAS contract for air service at Diomede with Evergreen 

Helicopters, Inc. as soon as possible because it will significantly'improve access to routine health 

services .and basic necessities while improving general economic welfare for the community of 

~ .,Dioinede, Alaska~· Next year's State grant would be effective' July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 assuming 

the appropriation gets signed next year. Additionally I want to express our support tor the continuation 

·· of tlie EAS program in Alaska and the crucial connection it brings to our remote communities. 

Sincerely, .. 

Steven D. Hatter 

Deputy Commissioner - Aviation