BLM PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-NV-W030-2012-0007-EA Burning Man 2012-2016 Special Recreation Permit NVW03500-12-01 Black Rock Field Office /Nevada March 2012 Nevada / Office District Winnemucca Prepared by: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District Office 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd. Winnemucca NV 89445-2921 Cooperating Agencies: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Nevada Department of Transportation Pershing County Washoe County 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. BLM/NV/WN/EA/12-8+1792 DOI-BLM-NV-W030-2012-0007-EA BLACK ROCK CITY LLC BURNING MAN 2012-2016 PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONTENTS List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................................................. ix 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Land Use Conformance Statement .................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.4 Relationship to Laws, Regulations, and Other Plans .......................................................................... 1-5 1.5 Issues ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1-5 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Alternative 1: 58,000 to 70,000-Person Maximum Alternative (Proposed Action) ..... 2-1 2.1.1 Event Setup and Signage ..................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.2 Public Access ............................................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.1.3 Traffic Control ............................................................................................................................................ 2-7 2.1.4 Event Security and Public Safety .................................................................................................. 2-8 2.1.5 Resource Management ....................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.1.6 Fire Management ................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.1.7 Dust Abatement ....................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.1.8 Runway and Aircraft ........................................................................................................................... 2-12 2.1.9 Sanitary Facilities .................................................................................................................................. 2-13 2.1.10 Event Take Down and Clean-Up ................................................................................................ 2-13 2.1.11 Permits Required .................................................................................................................................... 2-15 2.2 Alternative 2: 50,000-Person Maximum Alternative....................................................................... 2-15 2.3 Alternative 3: No Action/No Event Alternative .................................................................................. 2-16 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .................................................. 2-17 2.4.1 Private Land Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 2-17 2.4.2 Other (Public Land) Locations Alternative ......................................................................... 2-17 2.4.3 Location Rotation Alternative ....................................................................................................... 2-18 2.4.4 Revised Access Road Alternative .............................................................................................. 2-18 2.4.5 60,000-Person Maximum Alternative ..................................................................................... 2-19 2.4.6 Less than 50,000-Person Alternative ....................................................................................... 2-19 3. Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Affected Resources .................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.3 Areas of Assessment ............................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.1 Climate and Meteorology .................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.2.2 Ambient Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.2.3 Climate Change .......................................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.3 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) ........................................................................... 3-7 3.4 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 3-8 3.5 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................................................................ 3-12 March 2012 i Contents BLACK ROCK CITY LLC BURNING MAN 2012-2016 PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3.5.1 Population .................................................................................................................................................... 3-12 3.5.2 Demographics ........................................................................................................................................... 3-13 3.6 Invasive, Nonnative Species .............................................................................................................................. 3-14 3.7 Migratory Birds .......................................................................................................................................................... 3-15 3.7.1 Raptors ........................................................................................................................................................... 3-16 3.8 Native American Religious Concerns ........................................................................................................ 3-17 3.9 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................................................................... 3-17 3.10 Wastes, Hazardous or Solid ............................................................................................................................... 3-18 3.10.1 Solid Waste................................................................................................................................................. 3-18 3.10.2 Hydrocarbon Wastes ............................................................................................................................ 3-19 3.10.3 Offsite Waste ............................................................................................................................................. 3-19 3.10.4 Wastewater ................................................................................................................................................. 3-19 3.10.5 Hazardous Materials ............................................................................................................................ 3-20 3.11 Water Quality ..............................................................................................................................................................