Tim Thennis Montana Department of Disaster and

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
DISASTER & EMERGENCY SER\TCES DIVISION
www.dma.mt.sov/des
STATE OF MONTANA
(106) 321-1771
1956 Mt. Majo Strcct. l'.O. Box,1789
Ijon llarrison. Montana 59636-4789
May 19, 2015
Anthonv R. Foxx, Secretary
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue,
DC 20590
SE
Washington,
Re: Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes' TIGER Vll 2015 Grant Aoolication
Dear Secretary Foxx,
On behalf of Montana Department of Disaster and Emergency Services Response and Recovery
Bureau, we would like to express our appreciation for your support for the Poplar Airport
redevelopment and Regional Access project. The US Department of Tra nsportation approved a
5692,829 TIGER Planning Grant for this project in 2014 and pre-construction work has begun. We
respectfully request your continued support for this project so it may advance to construction
without delay.
Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) or Emergency Management is an integrated effort to
prevent or minimize the seriousness of emergencies and disasters and to plan and coordinate the
community's response to those emergencies and/or disasters. lt requires establishing
partnerships among emergency response and management personal to prevent, respond to,
recover from and mitigate emergencies and disasters. Coordination isa keyfactorofthe
emergency management program to protect lives, property, and resources.
The application presented by the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes' represents an important
opportunity for this area to improve safety where frequent traffic accidents and fatalities have
occurred. When complete, this project would improve traffic flow and provide for completed
streets; accommodating bike, pedestrian, and motorized transportation safely. US Highway 2
serves as a major corridor to Bakken oil and gas development in eastern Montana and western
North Dakota, and development of this area would dramatically improve access to medical
services, housin& and vital community facilities.
Federal funds would be leveraged with Tribal, state and private funds to provide significant safety
and access improvements to this area of Roosevelt County. This project would increase economic
opportunities by tying together growing businesses, community areas, and vital services with a
new, affordable housing village. With the community's safety and wellness in mind, we
respectfully request your continued support for the TIGER Vll Poplar Airport Redevelopment and
Response and Recovery
(406) 324-4783