Science

Donald Trump overrules scientists over 4th of July fireworks extravaganza at Mt. Rushmore


On Wednesday, during a speech at the White House announcing a new trade deal with China, Donald Trump described how he helped South Dakota governor Kristi Noem get around environmental concerns that had kept fireworks away from Mt Rushmore for nearly a decade.

The ban was instituted in 2009, after scientists and park rangers worried the growing number of dead trees in the park, attributed to an infestation of the southern pine beetle, posed a major fire risk.

After Noem was elected as the state’s governor in the 2018 election, she reached out to the White House for help getting around the ban.

On Wednesday, Donald Trump described how he helped the republican governor of South Dakota deal with environmental concerns about wildfires at Mt. Rushmore caused by fireworks

On Wednesday, Donald Trump described how he helped the republican governor of South Dakota deal with environmental concerns about wildfires at Mt. Rushmore caused by fireworks

‘She said, “Do you think we could get fireworks back at Mount Rushmore?”’ Trump said, according to a CNN report.

‘They haven’t been there for like 20 years, and I said, “Why?” Environmental reasons. “You mean you can’t have fireworks because of environmental reasons?’ She said, “Yeah.”’

‘What can burn, it’s stone?’ Trump recalled thinking. ‘Nobody knew why. I called up our people and in about 15 minutes, we got it approved and you’re going to have your first big fireworks display at Mount Rushmore and I will try to get out there if I can.’ 

In 2010, the US Forest Service estimated that the southern pine beetle had killed at least 10,000 trees in Black Hills National Forest, which park officials worried could be ignited by anything from a lightning strike, stray cigarette butt, or loose spark.

‘Our fuel loads would be so tremendous that [a] catastrophic firestorm would sweep right over the top of the memorial and it would be a catastrophic loss of all facilities,’ park ranger Bruce Weisman told NPR. 

Around 25 percent of the trees in the Black Hills National Forest, where Mt. Rushmore is, had been killed by beetle infestation by 2014

Around 25 percent of the trees in the Black Hills National Forest, where Mt. Rushmore is, had been killed by beetle infestation by 2014

Park rangers had been concerned that the rising number of dead trees in the national park around Mt. Rushmore could fuel a 'catastrophic firestorm would sweep right over the top of the memorial'

Park rangers had been concerned that the rising number of dead trees in the national park around Mt. Rushmore could fuel a ‘catastrophic firestorm would sweep right over the top of the memorial’

By 2014, researchers estimated that as many as 25 percent of the trees in the park’s forests had been killed by the beetle.

The beetles kill trees during their procreation process, burrowing below the bark to embed its larvae. 

In the process, the beetles frequently introduce a fungus, which in combination with the burrowing, gradually prevents water from traveling up and down the tree trunk, delivering nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

Over time, moisture gradually drains out of the tree as a result and the dried out trunk becomes an increased fire risk. 

At its peak, the pine beetle infestation had been observed in more than 448,000 of the park’s 1.2 million acres. 

 In response to the infestation, the Obama administration committed $75 million to fight the beetle infestation in South Dakota, largely through a pesticide program.

By 2017 the forest service said territory with active beetle infestation had been reduced to just 2,100 acres, and the average number of dead trees attributed to the beetles was less than four per acre.

The widespread tree death was driven by southern pine beetle infestation, which kills trees when it burrows underneath to lay its larvae and often introduces a destructive fungus in the process

The widespread tree death was driven by southern pine beetle infestation, which kills trees when it burrows underneath to lay its larvae and often introduces a destructive fungus in the process

After $75 million in federal funding to fight the tiny beetles from the Obama administration, their populations had fallen significantly in the park, but many cautioned the declines were temporary as their populations continued to grow in other areas

After $75 million in federal funding to fight the tiny beetles from the Obama administration, their populations had fallen significantly in the park, but many cautioned the declines were temporary as their populations continued to grow in other areas

Yet, some researchers said the reduction was temporary, pointing to other areas across the northern United States and Canada where the beetle populations had continued to grow.

A 2018 report from the Colorado State Forest Service said the beetle had killed more than 834 million trees in that state alone.  

In a statement announcing the return of the fireworks project, Noem said that since the 2009 infestation crisis the forest had ‘gained strength’ and advances in pyrotechnic safety would justify the return of fireworks. 

‘There is no more fitting place in all the nation to celebrate our democracy than from Mount Rushmore,’ Noem wrote.

‘We are grateful to President Trump and Interior Secretary [David] Bernhardt for helping us make this happen.” 

THE KILLER BEETLES 

Many of the pine forests impacted by the pine beetle (pictured) outbreak, especially in portions of Middle Park and North Park, now have a gray cast due to the large numbers of dead trees.

Many of the pine forests impacted by the pine beetle (pictured) outbreak, especially in portions of Middle Park and North Park, now have a gray cast due to the large numbers of dead trees.

Infestations of mountain pine beetles and spruce beetles are the main cause of the die-off, researchers say.

Popcorn-shaped masses of resin, called pitch-tubes, which may be brown, pink or white in color, are found on the trunk where the beetle began tunneling. 

Boring dust may be found in bark crevices or on the ground immediately adjacent to the tree base. 

Beetles are native to the state but have caused far more damage than normal over the past 20 years, attacking more than 7,900 square miles of forest, or more than 20 percent of total forested land.

Although the pine beetle epidemic has subsided, spruce beetles are still spreading. 

 



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