South Dakota Governor Noem Biden

Biden Admin Denies Permit For Fireworks Show At Mount Rushmore

In September, South Dakota’s state tourism office requested a permit to host a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore.

There would be fireworks, of course, as well as patriotic music.

On Monday, the agency got its answer: No. That’s because such an event would apparently offend Native Americans.

The Interior Department, which oversees the famous park, masked its decision in a fog of reasons.

In the letter, Michelle Wheatley, director of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, said, “After careful consideration, the NPS [National Park Service] has determined that we are unable to grant your request for this permit to hold a special event with fireworks at the Memorial. …Based on the information provided in the application, we have determined that multiple such criteria are present for the requested event, each of which would be independently sufficient to deny the request for a permit.”

Those “multiple criteria” included:

  • A threat to the environment because of fireworks, including contaminating the local water supply.
  • The potential for wildfire, which is a “high likelihood” with fireworks during the ongoing drought in the area. Even if it rained before the Fourth, that would not be enough.
  • The show would “unreasonably” interfere with the park service’s own celebration.
  • It would also interfere with the operation of the park’s food-service vendor.  
  • A fireworks show presents a “clear and present danger,” not only because of wildfire but because of the hobbling of an evacuation if an emergency occurred.

But the overarching reason appeared to be objections from Native American tribes.

“Fireworks are viewed by multiple Tribes as an adverse effect to the traditional cultural landscape,” Wheatley stated. “The Memorial is committed to furthering the Nation-to-Nation relationships with tribal governments,” and the agency is directed to “include considerations of how to safeguard the interests of any Indian Tribes such decisions may affect.” 

In the letter, the Interior Department acknowledges that the Trump administration worked with the state to revive a fireworks show, and signed an agreement to that effect.

Yet, “We do not believe a fireworks event would be ‘safe and responsible.’ …’”

The state was also denied an application last year for the same reasons. South Dakota sued and the case is still pending.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem referenced that in blasting the Interior Department’s decision.

“Mount Rushmore is the best place in America to celebrate our nation’s birthday – I just wish President Biden could see that,” Noem said in a statement.

“Last year, the President hypocritically held a fireworks celebration in Washington, D.C., while denying us our own event. This year, it looks like they are planning to do the same.”

She added, “NPS announced this denial less than 24 hours after we reminded the court that this year’s permit application was still pending. Many of the reasons presented for their denial have been previously addressed, indicating that these reasons are not in good faith. We will move forward with our litigation and urge the court to help us come to a speedy resolution.”

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3 Replies to “Biden Admin Denies Permit For Fireworks Show At Mount Rushmore”

  1. And what’s even funnier than this claptrap is the local Indians are totally peed off that the fireworks have been canceled again.

  2. And not having the fireworks offends every other American.
    So now we’re all offended.
    Biden did that.

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