83 FR 28656 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Burning Man Event 10-Year Special Recreation Permit, Pershing County, Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 119 (June 20, 2018)

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Black Rock Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving a 10-year Special Recreation Permit (SRP) for the Burning Man Event in Pershing County, Nevada. This Notice initiates public scoping period for the EIS. The public scoping process will assist the BLM with determining the issues to be addressed in the EIS, and serves to initiate public consultation, as required under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28656-28657]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13244]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVW03500.L51050000.EA0000.LVRCF1705210.17XMO#4500108946]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Burning Man Event 10-Year Special Recreation Permit, 
Pershing County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Black Rock 
Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving a 
10-year Special Recreation Permit (SRP) for the Burning Man Event in 
Pershing County, Nevada. This Notice initiates public scoping period 
for the EIS. The public scoping process will assist the BLM with 
determining the issues to be addressed in the EIS, and serves to 
initiate public consultation, as required under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA).

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until August 6, 
2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers 
and the BLM website at: https://go.usa.gov/xnBTu.
    In order to ensure comments are considered in the development of 
the EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 45-day 
scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is 
later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the Burning Man SRP EIS should be 
submitted to following addresses:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Burning Man 
SRP EIS Comments'' in the subject line.
     Mail: BLM--Winnemucca District Office--Black Rock Field 
Office, Attn: Mark E. Hall, Black Rock Field Manager, 5100 East 
Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hall at 775-623-1500 or 
[email protected]. Contact Mr. Hall to be added to our mailing list. 
Persons using 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 with the above individual. You 
will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Black Rock City LLC (BRC), 
has applied for a 10-year SRP under 43 CFR 2930 and has submitted a 
proposal to conduct the Burning Man event on public lands administered 
by the BLM Black Rock Field Office. BRC's proposal includes the 
following:
     Population increase to permit up to 100,000 total persons 
at the event;
     Expansion of the BLM Closure Order boundary by 561 acres, 
to a total of 14,714 acres;
     Creation of an infrastructure staging area on or near the 
Playa (60 x 300 ft);
     Expansion of alternative transportation (Burner Express 
Bus/Burner Express Air);
     Expansion of the perimeter fence to 10.4 miles total 
length;
     Arrival of as many as 30,000 staff and builders one week 
prior to opening;
     Expansion of Black Rock City to 1,250 acres;
     Installation of additional interactive camps;
     Installation of additional large scale art pieces;
     BRC licensing of art cars and ADA compliant vehicles to 
drive on the playa during event week;
     Use of approximately 16.5 million gallons of water per 
year would be obtained from private groundwater wells, located at Fly 
Ranch owned by BRC, for dust abatement and in support of event 
activities; and
     BRC management of vendor and compliance monitoring.

[[Page 28657]]

    A reasonable range of alternatives will be formulated. In addition 
to the proposed action, two alternatives have been identified for 
analysis. The No Action alternative will analyze continuation of the 
existing event with paid population of 70,000 and up to 10,000 
volunteers and paid staff. The No Event alternative will analyze not 
having the event in the Black Rock-High Rock National Conservation 
Area. Additional alternatives may be determined. The EIS will assess 
the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of BRC's proposal as well 
as any recommended mitigation.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives and guide the process for developing the EIS. At 
present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary key issues:
     With the increase in participants, both the Pershing and 
Washoe County Sheriff offices may express concerns over public health 
and safety, and deputy staffing. Associated with this is the question 
of how the BLM will enforce applicable federal, state and local laws;
     With the increase in participants, increased amounts of 
airborne dust may be created, with associated air quality impacts;
     Surrounding communities and the Pyramid Lake Indian 
Reservation may express concerns on the amount of solid waste (trash 
and refuse) generated by participants and how it will be disposed as 
participants depart the event;
     A variety of groups may want to know how BLM will monitor 
the event to insure that there is no unnecessary or undue degradation 
of federal land, and that the BLM receives appropriate financial 
compensation and cost recovery under the law; and
     With the increase in participants, both the Nevada 
Department of Transportation and County of Washoe may raise concerns 
with traffic and load capacity issues on public roads that access the 
event.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the NHPA as provided 
in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural 
resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed action 
will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such 
resources in the context of both NEPA and the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, 
Secretarial Order 3317 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including 
but not limited to impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts 
to cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State 
and local agencies and other stakeholders that may be interested in or 
affected by BRC's proposal are invited to participate in the scoping 
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to 
participate in the development of the environmental analysis as a 
cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address or other 
personally identifiable information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personally identifiable 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask the BLM in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7.

Mark E. Hall,
Field Manager, Black Rock Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-13244 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P