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fOOD BANK 

May 9, 2014 

329 Applestill Road • El Centro, CA 92243 

(760) 370-0966 • info@ivfoodbank.org 

Secretary Anthony Foxx 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Docket DOT-OST-2008-0299 

Dear Secretary Foxx, 

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I write to express my concerns with the Department of Transportation's Tentative Order to 

terminate the Essential Air Service (EAS) program in El Centro, California located in Imperial 

County. I urge you to consider the negative economic impacts that may occur as a result of 

the proposed termination of the program. 

The Imperial County Airport has a tremendous track record of surpassing the EAS program 

requirements put forth by the government, as they have dramatically exceeded the 

enplanement minimum in four of the last five fiscal years. Unfortunately, in FY 2013, the 

Imperial County Airport barely fell below the ten enplanement threshold, by reaching 9.5 

enplanements for the first time due to the change in the mandated air carrier that occurred in 

2013. 

There are extenuating circumstances that have led to the decline in enplanements. The 

uncertainty of the air carrier change from United based SkyWest to Seaport Airlines, which 

occurred in May of 2013, has been a difficult and unpopular transition. The change in timing 

(SkyWest service was extended for two months after its original announcement) in aircraft 

carriers and the learning curve for local user of the airport to transition to purchasing tickets 

from a system that was not linked to any major aircraft carrier was cumbersome and 

unfortunate. To this day, those who fly from Imperial to San Diego have to leave the commuter 

terminal and go through security again before they can fly to their real destinations. Many local 

people have simply opted not to use this service. The uncertainty of the timing needed 

between flights is too risky to leave it to chance. If the Imperial County community had never 

had SkyWest previously, and known the convenience of flying directly to LAX with the ease of 

changing planes to anywhere in the world, then Seaport might be an adequate airline. 

It is my understanding that your office made the decision to change from SkyWest to Seaport 

Airlines as the mandated carrier at the Imperial County Airport. It is unfair that less than one 

year after that decision was made, our local community and economy are being punished for 

this decision by a threat to discontinue service. We are a resilient community and we will adjust 

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fOOD 

~ BANK 

329 Applestill Road • El Centro, CA 92243 

(760) 370-0966 • info@ivfoodbank.org 

to Seaport airlines, but we will need more time to raise the .5 enplanements needed for your 

criteria. 

TheEl Centro Airport is crucial to a number of key industries in Imperial County. The 

alternative energy market is essential to the economic growth of the county. Our solar, wind 

and geothermal facilities are visited frequently by the national corporation representatives that 

run these facilities and those who are interested in building more facilities in a county blessed 

with 360 days of sunshine a year. Our agricultural community represents 33% of our county's 

economic engine. Key leaders form the Ag industry serve on elected boards and committees 

both in Sacramento and Washington and need the ability to get to those places quickly and 

efficiently. Many Imperial County residents are important leaders in their fields. Education, 

Government, Medical and non-profit leaders, like myself, require the ability to get to 

Sacramento and national conference locations without adding an extra day of travel on to the 

front and back ends of trips. 

The Imperial County houses one of the strategic training facilities for Homeland Security's 

Border Patrol and operates from that base a large patrol area along the Mexican Border. The 

Naval Air Facility El Centro is also a strategic training facility for aircraft carrier fighter pilots 

and helicopter training. The elimination of the Imperial County Airport would affect other 

government bureaus and departments in very negative ways. 

As you know, the Essential Air Service was put into place to guarantee that small communities, 

including those within the Imperial County, continue to be served by certificated air carriers. 

Over the last several years, Imperial County has experienced the highest unemployment rate 

in the nation. Our federal government should encourage economic growth, and consider all 

factors before terminating a much-needed program in the region. 

As you prepare the Final Order, I urge you to consider the Imperial Valley's track record over 

the last five fiscal years, and ask that you consider the void that will be left should the 

Department of Transportation ultimately decide to terminate the much-needed Essential Air 

Service program currently in effect at the Imperial County Airport. 

It is truly essential. 

Thank you for your time and consideration of my request. 

Sincerely, 

tJA!f~ 

Sara Griffen 

Executive Director 

Imperial Valley Food Bank 

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