NPS officials have turned down South Dakota's request to stage a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore this summer/Kurt Repanshek file
The fireworks display last July at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota will not be repeated this summer due to safety and Native American concerns, National Park Service officials have told South Dakota Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen.
Last year's display, held July 3, came at the request of President Trump. It broke an 11-year-run of no Independence Day fireworks at the memorial because of safety and pollution concerns.
"After careful consideration, the National Park Service has determined that we are unable to grant a request to have fireworks at the Memorial," Bert Frost, the Park Service's Midwest regional director, wrote Hagen on March 11. "The 2019 Memorandum of Agreement between the State of South Dakota and the Department of the Interior commits us to work together to bring fireworks back to the Memorial in a safe and responsible manner.
"Potential risks to the park itself and to the health and safety of employees and visitors associated with the fireworks demonstration continue to be a concern and are still being evaluated as a result of the 2020 event," Frost added in the letter. "In addition, the park’s many tribal partners expressly oppose fireworks at the Memorial. These factors, compiled with the COVID-19 pandemic, do not allow a safe and responsible fireworks display to be held at this site."
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and the state's congressional delegation have said they would challenge that decision.
"Let’s be clear, this decision is political, not evidence-based. President Biden just said himself that Americans can safely gather by July 4 – what’s changed in a day?" stated a letter from U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds. "Last year millions watched the celebration in awe, and it’s a shame the administration is denying Americans that opportunity this year."
A 2016 study by the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that surface and groundwater at Mount Rushmore were probably polluted with a chemical common to rocket fuels and explosives by past fireworks display. The environmental assessment prepared for last year's event played down the threat of additional perchlorate contamination by noting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been considering a move to bump up the allowable amount of the chemical in drinking water by more than three times, from 15 microgrms per liter to 56 micrograms per liter.
Perchlorate has been found to interfere with the function of the human thyroid gland.
Aerial fireworks displays took place at the memorial around the 1998-2009 Independence Days. The USGS and National Park Service studied perchlorate and metals associated with fireworks in 106 water and 11 soil samples taken from Mount Rushmore during 2011-2015. Perchlorate concentrations were greatest in samples collected from the northeast side of the memorial, and the scientists found perchlorate in soil where the fireworks were launched and where the debris landed.
That testing found a maximum perchlorate concentration of 54 micrograms per liter measured in a stream sample, and 38 micrograms per liter measured from a groundwater well. In contrast, all groundwater and stream samples collected from sites outside the memorial boundary had perchlorate concentrations less than 0.2 micrograms per liter.
"The park continues to monitor levels of perchlorates in the water and the potential for wildfire," Frost said in the letter. "The 2020 event was limited in attendance due to safety concerns, which consequently impacted tens of thousands who were not able to visit the memorial or had their visit cut short.
"Also, we are in the final phase of a significant construction project in the park. While the work is scheduled to be complete in June 2021, any delay in the project would result in the work not being complete by July. A second demobilization to accommodate an event would be costly to the agency and impact the visiting public further based on the 2020 experience. These factors all weigh into the decision whether to hold a 2021 event."
Comments
"Let's be clear, this decision is political, not evidence-based."
Actually, it does sound like last year's fireworks display was the more political decision, following the eleven year precedent of not having fireworks. The news of the perchlorate presence is exacty what the partisan comment asks for - specific science based information in the decision making.
So, when Representative Johnson and Senators Thune and Rounds claim that the "decision is political, not evidence-based," are we sure they're talking about fireworks and not masks or other COVID prevention measures? After all, they are all, all, honorable men ...aren't they?
The Left will attack every American tradition until they remake the country into their dreamed-of Orwellian utopia under the false premises of "equity" [not equality] and "following the science".
Anything that celebrates the USA is to be frowned upon. American heros are to be villified. Any opportunity for Americans to celebrate is to be minimized or cancelled.
Now, really, did the article say any of that or did it say that there can't be "fireworks at the memorial because of safety and pollution" issues? Plus, the article mentions the potential for another costly construction demobilization/remobilization event like the one caused by the 2020 debacle. And, there is undeniable evidence that those concerns are based in fact.
First, there is a severe drought in that area with the United States Drought Monitor showing a recent unseasonal expansion, which raises the possibility that nearby areas of extreme drought or even exceptional drought could actually expand over the next couple of months.
Second, although President Biden's COVID vaccination program is going very well by comparison with the other guy's performance, there is still some worries that the proliferation of the virus allowed by the other guy's performance and the resulting high mutation rates will give us some further variant problems. A massive, frenzied, childish, ultra-rightwing gathering to watch silly fireworks would overload the NPS, cause all sorts of traffic and crowd problems, and could cause a variant coronavirus surge in the area that might impact nearby Native American communities and, in case you hadn't noticed, indigenous communities have a right to look after the health of their residents too.
Third, there are already surface and subsurface plumes of perchlorates associated with past fireworks displays at Mount Rushmore. Yes, I know that, during the regime of that other guy, the EPA was forced to say that they might consider increasing the allowable level of perchlorate to 56 micrograms per liter; but, that appears to obviously only been to get to a number higher than the already outrageously high 54 micrograms per liter measured in a stream at Mount Rushmore and to thus get that other guy off their back.
I've always thought one of the virtues of American heroes was that they acted like adults and considered what was good for their fellow citizens. And, as far as either equity or equality goes, if you won't sling Orwell around, I won't bring up Hitler.
Loui ---
Ok, now I have you labelled in my mind to ignore because of your demonstrated lump sum generalist view. Thanks for mnaking that clear as crystal.
The decision to bring back the fireworks under the previous administration was 100% political and went against years of science and safety. Apparently going back to following the science and not wanting to burn down the Black Hills is "political". I don't know a single person in the decision making world on this who is "anti-American" or "against celebrating America". What needs to be done is planning for a different kind of celebration in 2022. 2021 should be on hold due to COVID uncertainties-this gives us a year to come up with something big and new for 2022 that does not involve fireworks. Possibly laser light shows, concerts, etc.
If I were the governor, find another place near that area, that is not on federal land, and needs no permission from federal government.