U.S. Department of the Interior March 2019 Bureau of Land Management Black Rock Field Office Burning Man Event Special Recreation Permit Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Volume 1 COSTS BLM: $280,000 Proponent: $922,468 MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT BURNING MAN EVENT SPECIAL RECREATION PERMIT LEAD AGENCY: US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca District Office, Black Rock Field Office COOPERATING AGENCIES: US Department of Homeland Security US Environmental Protection Agency US Federal Bureau of Investigation Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Nevada Department of Transportation Humboldt County Pershing County Pershing County Sheriff’s Office Washoe County PROJECT LOCATION: Pershing County, Nevada COMMENTS ON THIS DRAFT EIS Dr. Mark Hall, PhD SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: EIS Project Manager Black Rock Field Office 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd. Winnemucca, Nevada 86445 (775) 623-1500
[email protected] PROJECT WEBSITE: https://go.usa.gov/xnBTu ABSTRACT This Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the potential impacts associated with a proposed multi-year Special Recreation Permit for Black Rock City, LLC to produce the Burning Man Event annually from 2019 to 2028. The Burning Man Event is an annual gathering in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada. The Event takes place on Black Rock Desert Playa 8.5 miles northeast of Gerlach, Nevada, and approximately 100 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada. The primary component of the Proposed Action includes an incremental population increase of 5,000 per year, starting at 85,000 bodies on playa (including participants and BRC staff and volunteers, and excluding government personnel and vendors) in 2019, reaching a maximum population of 100,000 in 2022.