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Newsjock

(11,733 posts) Fri Jun 26, 2015, 02:05 PM Jun 2015

RGJ Exclusive: BLM wants $1 million VIP compound from Burning Man

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials are asking Burning Man organizers to provide "excessive" comforts such as flushing toilets, washers and dryers, and vanity mirrors in a compound for high-level government officials staying in Black Rock City.

A Burning Man spokesman estimated the compound would cost the event more than $1 million, bringing its 2015 permit fees to about $5 million. The renderings of the compound obtained by the RGJ also show various accommodations set aside for VIP visitors but don't indicate who the visiting dignitaries will be.

The request, unprecedented in Burning Man's history, has turned into a point of contention as organizers negotiate with the agency for their annual permit to stage the event in the Black Rock Desert. No permit has been issued for this year's event, which runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 7. Typically permits are issued in early August.

Burning Man has refused to comply with the BLM's request, which the federal agency submitted on June 1, according to Burning Man spokesman Jim Graham.

Read more: http://www.rgj.com/longform/news/2015/06/26/blm-wants-vip-compound-burning-man/29318493/

8 replies

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Highlight:

RGJ Exclusive: BLM wants $1 million VIP compound from Burning Man (Original Post) Newsjock Jun 2015 OP

they should insist that any government officials or other "dignitaries" attending... mike_c Jun 2015 #1

Are you sure this isn't from The Onion? KamaAina Jun 2015 #2

yea right after they take care of cliven bundy Romeo.lima333 Jun 2015 #3

They should pull the permit permanently ripcord Jun 2015 #4

there is nothing about how they have to clean up after ? JI7 Jun 2015 #5

Too bad it isn't over cattle grazing illegally on federal land. Rex Jun 2015 #6

I'm surprised that permits are issued so late in the process: petronius Jun 2015 #7

Update: Reid to BLM: You want flush toilets at Burning Man? Go to Gerlach Newsjock Jun 2015 #8

mike_c

(36,281 posts)

1. they should insist that any government officials or other "dignitaries" attending...

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 02:09 PM

Jun 2015

...bring a live-in art project and wear pink tutus on the playa.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

2. Are you sure this isn't from The Onion?

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 02:44 PM

Jun 2015

Romeo.lima333

(1,127 posts)

3. yea right after they take care of cliven bundy

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 03:11 PM

Jun 2015

ripcord

(5,415 posts)

4. They should pull the permit permanently

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 04:46 PM

Jun 2015

We have a large rocket launch at Black Rock right after Blurning Man and we often see trash from the event.

JI7

(89,252 posts)

5. there is nothing about how they have to clean up after ?

Reply to ripcord (Reply #4)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 04:48 PM

Jun 2015

Rex

(65,616 posts)

6. Too bad it isn't over cattle grazing illegally on federal land.

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 04:48 PM

Jun 2015

Then they could just scoff at the BLM and call Foxnews to rescue them from the terrible gummit!

petronius

(26,602 posts)

7. I'm surprised that permits are issued so late in the process:

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 04:51 PM

Jun 2015

"No permit has been issued for this year's event, which runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 7. Typically permits are issued in early August."

For such an elaborate event, one would think that a bit of certainty further in advance would be wise...

Newsjock

(11,733 posts)

8. Update: Reid to BLM: You want flush toilets at Burning Man? Go to Gerlach

Reply to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Jun 26, 2015, 07:45 PM

Jun 2015

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/06/26/reid-want-toilets-burning-man-go-gerlach/29357821/

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., sent a letter Friday to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell following the Reno Gazette-Journal's investigation into lavish demands the U.S. Bureau of Land Management made to Burning Man organizers.

... "I care strongly about the environment in the Black Rock Desert and was glad to author the legislation that created the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area where Burning Man is held. While I agree that the BLM should take its permitting duties seriously and work with Burning Man to both guarantee the safety of its participants and the protection of the environment, providing outlandishly unnecessary facilities for the BLM and its guests should be beyond the scope of the permitting requirements. Part of Burning Man's philosophy is self-reliance and living with the elements is part of the experience. Flush toilets and laundry facilities can be found about ten miles away in Gerlach, Nevada, if BLM's employees need such amenities.

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