South Dakota's governor said she plans to appeal a judge's ruling to uphold a Department of Interior (DOI) decision to cancel the Mount Rushmore fireworks display this year and that she will fight to bring it back for future years. 

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem sued the Biden administration in April citing that the Department of Interior did not grant a permit to South Dakota that would allow it to hold Fourth of July fireworks this year.

"The fight isn't over. We'll be appealing to return fireworks to Mount Rushmore in 2022 and in the future. The decision to cancel them was arbitrary and unlawful," Noem said in a Twitter post. 

Judge Robert A. Lange cited COVID-19 pandemic, tribal and environmental impacts when denying the request in an opinion filed in the Federal District Court of South Dakota in early June. 

Along with the DOI, the Sioux Nation also joined in asking the judge not to allow the fireworks display, as stated in a Law360 article.

The judge stated in his opinion that, "a national show of unity and celebration, such as a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day, is appealing. However, this court is not called up onto determine whether such a fireworks display is a good idea." 

He added that he cannot disregard settled law on issuing fireworks permits and as such had to uphold the DOI's denial.