Air tours disrupt visitors and hurt wildlife
Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park are beloved places know for cultural significance and scenery including rolling, hilly countryside. They have been overwhelmed with noisy air tours.
The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have allowed thousands of noisy helicopter tours. Low-flying commercial air tours interfere with those experiencing the natural sounds, and disrupted interpretive tours and Tribal gatherings.
NPS and FAA are trying to continue allowing air tours, even though they know helicopters disrupt visitor experiences and harm wildlife. Please urge them to protect Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park, its wildlife, and the visitors who enjoy them.
Dear National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration,
National parks are places I go to appreciate scenery and history, watch wildlife, and enjoy interpretation. I agree with your recommendation to prohibit noisy air tours over Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park.
For both park units, commercial air tours have been flying directly over areas where most visitors gather to enjoy each park. Air tours are in direct conflict with interpretive tours and in Badlands, shatter the wilderness experience.
Wildlife including peregrine falcons are severely impacted by noise generated by air tours. The National Park Service believes this noise may be contributing to their survival as the birds have struggled with nesting and rearing in both parks.
We go to national parks to get away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives—to appreciate nature and learn about our history. Noisy air tours should not be allowed to ruin visitor experiences and harm wildlife. We support your recommendation to eliminate them in Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park.
Sincerely,
[your name]
