US night-sky agency threatened by the White House administration funding cuts | The Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division strives to provide ‘full sensory experience’ in country’s national parks

From the article: The Trump administration appears poised to cut the US Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD), a little-known office that works to rein in noise and light pollution in national parks, a task that is seen as a vital environmental endeavor.

Advocates say the division’s work is quiet but important – many plants and animals rely on the darkness, and light pollution is contributing to firefly and other insect die-offs. The office led efforts to reduce light pollution at the Grand Canyon and snowmobile noise that drowned out sounds emanating from the Old Faithful geyser, among other initiatives.

“They’re a small but mighty program,” said Kristen Brengel, vice-president of government affairs for the National Park Conservation Association, which advocates for the national park system.

“When you think about it, the national parks are a full sensory experience … and there are scientists behind the scenes who are making sure that you have that world-class experience,” Brengel added.

The office is an example of what would be lost if the Trump administration is successful in implementing deep cuts to the US National Park Service, shifting its focus from enhancing and preserving parks to simply managing visitors. The agency’s stewardship budget, which funds the NSNSD’s office of about 10 employees, is facing a proposed reduction from about $375m to $185m, and advocates say the office is almost certainly threatened.