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US.D«pCirtm*nf o f 1 200 New Jeney Avenue, SE 

TftmsportOMon Washington. DC 20590 

Otitce of the Secretary 

ot Transportation 

OCT 2 2 2010 

The Honorable John T. Salazar :-,; ^j.. 

U.S. House of Representatives ' ' - ic ^^ 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Salazar: r^} 

Thank you for your letter addressed to Associate Director Aloha Ley, supporting fftfe 

proposal submitted by the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization for a grant 

under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (Small Community 

Program). 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. Under the 

statute, the Department may use the funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than four 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 provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. 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 assure you, however, that the Department will 

give fiill 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-2010-0124 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

r 1 

Todd Homan 

Director, Office of Aviation Analysis 
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.August 23, 2010 

Aloha Ley 

Office oT Aviation Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transponation 

1200 New Jersey Ave.. SE, W86-310 

Wasiiingion, DC 20590 

RE: Simill Coniniunity Air Service Development grant for the Teiluride Regionai Airijort 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

I am writing in yiippuit of the Small Community Air Service Development grant application submilted hy 

the Telluride Regional Airport in San Miguel County, Colorado. The airport seeks funds from the U.S. 

Department of Transportation to acquire a second summer carrier and to increase (lights to Denver. 

R.xpanding coverage to this small airport would greatly benefit consumers and the regional economy. 

Increased coverage would create opportunities for increased flight availability and the potential for cost 

t eduction of fiights due lo the competition among carriers. 

fhe Telluride Regional Airport is an important economic hub in southwest Colorado for tourism, 

business, and the local community. In 2008, the airport brought in an estimated $140 trillion in economic 

activity for the region. Enhancements made possible with this gram funding wouiff* support the 

i^ustainability of this aiqiort in the future. 

fhank you for your consideration of the Telluride Regional Airport's grant proposal. Please keep my 

Durango olfiec informed of any developments related to this grant. 

Sincerely, 

f"-^ ^^.^^.^^ 

John T. Salazar 

Member of Congress 

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