Burning Man’s BLM Special Recreation Permit is up for the 10 year renewal. The BLM is accepting public comments about the draft environmental impact statement and specifically plans regarding Black Rock City’s population. There will be meetings in April and comments are due by April 28. Read the full BLM letter below:

March 15, 2019

In Reply Refer to: NVW03500-19-01 2930(NV030.00)

Dear Interested Public:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Black Rock Field Office (BRFO) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) evaluating Black Rock City LLC’s (BRC) request for a 10-year Special Recreation Permit (SRP) for the Burning Man Event in Pershing County, Nevada. The DEIS, Appendices and associated baseline studies can be downloaded or viewed from https://go.usa.gov/xEmSY.

The DEIS evaluates the impacts of BRC’s proposed action of increasing the population at the event to 100,000 over five years. Alternatives examined in the DEIS include: 1) capping the total population of the event at 50,000; 2) increasing the population to 100,000 over 5 years and moving the event further north on the playa; 3) capping the population at the event at 80,000; and 4) not having the Burning Man event.

The public is invited to submit comments relative to the development of the Final EIS and proposed mitigations within 45 days of the date of this letter. This is also your opportunity to consult with the BLM under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) on potential impacts to cultural and historic properties.

Comment meetings are to be scheduled for Reno and Lovelock, Nevada. Tentative dates for the public meetings are April 8 and 9, 2019. Times and venues are still being arranged. The venues and times of the comment meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM website at https://go.usa.gov/xEmSY.

The DEIS may be viewed and downloaded from the website listed above. Copies of the DEIS are available for viewing in the BLM Winnemucca District Office at the above address (5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca Nevada 89445); and at the BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno Nevada 89502. Both BLM offices are open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Please send written comments to Mark E. Hall, the BRFO Field Manager, at the above address or email blm_nv_burningmaneis@blm.gov. Public comments submitted to the BLM must contain the commenter’s name and address. Please note that this information may be made publically available at any time. While individuals may request that the BLM withhold personal identifying information from public review, BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so. If you wish us to withhold your personal information, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses available for public disclosure in their entirety.

For questions about the proposed SRP renewal contact Mark Hall- Black Rock Field Office Field Manager, telephone: (775) 623-1500, address: 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, Nevada 89445. Contact Mark Hall to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

Sincerely,

Mark E. Hall Field Manager Black Rock Field Office