Hey, how about that Burning Man 2006? What did you think about the art? Were the toilets clean and easy to find? What were your experiences with law enforcement? Did you find the map, WhatWhereWhen and Survival Guide informative? What about performances in the Cafe? Did you find what you needed in Center Camp?

Every year after the event, Burning Man staff reflect on what we’ve accomplished and what we plan to do in the future — changes, improvements, what was right, wrong, etc. First, we attend a meeting in October with the BLM and other agencies to debrief on how the organizers and agencies worked together to fulfill the permit stipulations. At about the same time, staff members submit their feedback in EMBER reports. The reports are read by the Board and discussed at the annual Board Retreat. Then the over 100 reports are read by the Senior Staff in preparation for another off-site debrief in mid-November. A fundamental principle of the Burning Man Project has always been to engage in “self-reflection”. This applies to the individual as much as the Project. We take the body of information we’ve gathered in the fall, and begin planning for the next year immediately.

We want to include YOUR feedback in our planning process. When the event was smaller we held Town Meetings in the winter in San Francisco as a forum for feedback. However, over time this option didn’t prove the most efficient to receive the broadest comments from the community. As in 2004 and 2005, the Project for 2006 is making available to participants an email address for comments on Burning Man. Please email any comments to: feedback(at)burningman(dot)com before November 1, 2006 in order to be included in our retreat process and planning for next year.

Due to the fact we typically get a strong response to this request for feedback, it is not practical to reply directly to everyone. Depending on the nature of the feedback, some participants may receive a direct response. If many feedback emails touch upon similar issues, then we will draft a general response that will be sent on the JRS and posted in the Q&A AfterBurn Report. We DO promise that your email will be read. We want to hear from new and old Burners alike. Starting with the good before the bad is helpful. ;-)

Furthermore, Burning Man staff members are interested in meeting with participants and hearing their thoughts in person during their increasing number of trips to meet with Regional groups year round. We will gladly work with any Regional groups to set up gatherings with participants when Board or Senior Staff members travel. If you would like to find out more about the Regional Network and a group in your area please visit http://regionals.burningman.com.

Thanks for taking the time to contribute your thoughts. We promise we’ll read what you have to say. Looking forward to 2007!

~ The Burning Man Project Staff

Recently the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued Black Rock City, LLC (BRC) a five-year Special Recreation Permit. One of the stipulations requires BRC to pay for local law enforcement expenses in addition to the $4 per person per day in user fees that BRC already pays to the BLM. In the past the BLM has always paid for local law enforcement expenses from the user fee revenue. Legal counsel have advised BRC that this stipulation is “double dipping” that goes against the BLM’s own fee regulations. BRC has filed an appeal of that stipulation, which will be heard by the Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals. Appeals can sometimes take over a year to be decided. In the meantime BRC is paying local law enforcement expenses for 2006. If BRC ultimately prevails then the BLM will have to reimburse the expenses to BRC.

Thank you to everyone who sent public comments to the BLM earlier this year about the proposed new stipulations for 2006. BRC is satisfied with the outcome of the rest of the stipulation negotiations. The permit, stipulations and related documents are available for downloading here.

Thank you to everyone who sent their public comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the new stipulations that the BLM wanted to impose this year.  The good news is that we got most of what we wanted, including a 5-year permit.  Following is a summary of the results.

There will be no population cap this year.  The BLM is allowing us 6% growth per year, which is about what we anticipate based on ticket sales and historical data.  If the population exceeds that amount then we will have to address any infrastructural challenges.  As in past years, any evictions of unruly participants will be handled by the Black Rock Rangers in cooperation with law enforcement officers.  Also, we will be allowed to deduct working staff from fee calculations as we have done in the past.  The BLM is still planning to make Burning Man pay the bill for local law enforcement costs on top of the fees that Burning Man already pays.  Black Rock City, LLC is currently deciding whether to appeal this stipulation or not.

On a related issue, the BLM needs to respond to the over 4,000 participants who sent in public comments.  In order to help save some trees, we have agreed to send out the BLM’s response on the JRS, and post on our website.  Following is the BLM’s Notice of Decision including a link to related documents:

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Winnemucca Field Office
5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard
Winnemucca, Nevada 89445
http://www.nv.blm.gov

6/7/06

NV-020-06-EA-11 (NV25.11)

Dear Interested Public,

The Winnemucca Field Office has authorized a five-year Special Recreation Permit for Black  Rock City LLC to conduct the Burning Man event for the years of 2006-2010.   The permit may be renewed for up to four additional years, subject to satisfactory permit compliance.  The permit  must be authorized annually following an event evaluation, site inspections, and cooperator’s  coordination meetings.  The final decision to authorize a five-year permit was based on analysis  of the potential environmental impacts and public comments.  The decision incorporates  elements of the proposed action and alternatives proposed in the preliminary Environmental  Assessment (EA).

The final Environmental Assessment, Decision Record/Finding of No Significant Impact, and  permit stipulations are posted on-line at the Winnemucca BLM Field Office web-site at  http://www.nv.blm.gov/Winnemucca/.  Please contact the Winnemucca Field Office to request a hard copy.  If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Dave Lefevre, Outdoor Recreation Planner at (775) 623-1500.

Sincerely,
David C. Cooper, NCA Manager

At the end of April, we issued a Call To Action for our community to tell the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that we do not agree with proposed draconian stipulations that would allow the BLM to charge Burning Man even more money and also give law enforcement the unfettered discretion to evict participants from Black Rock City. In less than one week the Burning Man community rallied by sending at least 2,221 emails and 298 letters to the BLM voicing disagreement with the proposed stipulations. (The official number of emails and letters was probably even higher, but we are only able to count the letters and emails where participants also sent copies to Burning Man headquarters. We’ll get the official count from the BLM in the near future.) Thank-you all for the deluge of wonderful comments and support!

Burning Man representatives met with the BLM and the Pershing County Commission to discuss the county’s position about the proposed change in stipulations. The positive outcome was that Pershing County agreed with Burning Man that the BLM should continue to pay local law enforcement costs; not Burning Man.

Thanks to your support and the support of Pershing County, we are confident that we will reach a palatable agreement with the BLM very soon. Stay tuned! The original Call To Action is below if you are interested in more details.

CALL TO ACTION: VOICE YOUR OPINION TO THE BLM ABOUT ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS FEE INCREASES

(posted 4/28/2006)

Have you ever wondered how much money Burning Man pays to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use the Black Rock Desert? Have you ever wondered where all that money goes? Would you like to give the BLM your opinion about how to use those public funds to better serve the public? Well, not only is this your chance; but it’s also your right. Moreover, we ask that you make it your duty.

Each year we submit our Operating Plan, and each year the BLM replies with an Environmental Assessment (EA) and stipulations.  This results in a signed permit, which puts us in a position of supporting and following the stipulations.  For 10-years we’ve worked with the BLM and successfully negotiated stipulations.  In most cases the stipulations were born from our own initiative in the Operating Plan we submit with our permit request form.  Some of you may remember our permit initially being returned and not processed in 1998. At that time we waged a serious campaign with the BLM, and this included a call to action via the JRS. The BLM was flooded with 500 letters that they are required to painstakingly file and catalog. This action by the Burning Man participant base when there were less than 10,000 on the JRS was a significant part of the push that eventually caused the BLM to relent and process the permit.

Unfortunately, this year’s permit stipulations aren’t going as smoothly as they have in the past. Suggested modifications could cost us in excess of $200,000 in 2006 alone. Here’s where we’re at right now.  The BLM has different options for charging users of public land.  After experimenting with some of these methods, the BLM settled upon a method that is simple to calculate, maximizes funds for the Black Rock Desert National Conservation Area (NCA), and is not too much of a financial burden on Burning Man or its participants.  Most of you know the BLM requires $4 per person per day for the use of the federally owned land.  For the past several years this method has yielded over $700,000 annually for the BLM.  The BLM in turn uses this money to pay for costs associated with Burning Man.  The remainder goes towards stewardship of the NCA land itself.

Since 1998 BLM law enforcement has taken an increasingly larger piece of the pie.  (See Chart 1.)  In 2005 over $500,000 went to law enforcement related costs.  From 1998 to 2004 the cost of law enforcement astronomically increased 616%.  In stark contrast population growth in Black Rock City during this period has only been slight, and has even tapered off in the last couple of years.  What’s more startling is the fact that the already low incidence of crime in Black Rock City has not significantly increased, and has in fact dropped in some of those years. (See Chart 2.)

CHART 1 (click for larger version)

CHART 2 (click for larger version)

So what’s the need for all this excess law enforcement?  We asked that same question almost a year ago in a report we submitted to the BLM.  Although the BLM sent us a cursory response, to date there has been no full accounting, nor has there been a rational reason given for the increasing costs.

It seems apparent that the increase in LE costs has motivated the local district to do everything to squeeze more permit funds out of Burning Man to help manage the NCA.  For years the BLM has entered into a Law Enforcement Agreement with Pershing County (the county in which Black Rock City sits) to enforce state and local laws at Burning Man.  Each year the BLM has requested assistance from the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, and then reimbursed the county for its costs out of the fees that the BLM is authorized to collect from Burning Man.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhance Act (16 U.S.C. section 6801 et seq.) prevents the BLM from double charging users of public land for expenses that the BLM incurs under other areas of law.  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. section 1733) names the BLM as the agency authorized to incur local law enforcement costs.  Therefore, these costs cannot be double charged to Burning Man.

Previously, the BLM tried unsuccessfully to pass these local law enforcement costs onto Burning Man.  Our legal team tells us this is an illegal way to double charge Burning Man.  In 2002 a letter from three members of Congress made the BLM reconsider its attempt.  In 2005 the BLM tried to get support for this arrangement from Pershing County.  However, the county chose what Burning Man had to offer instead–donations to charities in Pershing County from ice-sale revenue.  Now for the third time the BLM is again trying to pass these costs onto Burning Man by pretending that the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office is a “vendor,” like Johnny-On-The-Spot, or the company that supplies water trucks for dust abatement.  Never mind that the business of enforcing laws is a GOVERNMENT function; not the responsibility of Black Rock City, LLC–a private company.

Furthermore, the BLM also wants to put a cap on the population of Black Rock City.  The Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Highway Patrol stated publicly that Highway 447 is not even near its capacity during Burning Man.  The only reason given by the BLM is that there would not be enough room in the one motel in Gerlach to house the increased number of law enforcement officers at Burning Man.  First, law enforcement levels are already too high and unjustified.  Second, there are other housing options in the area.

The increase in law enforcement costs has motivated the local district to do everything to squeeze more permit funds out of Burning Man to help manage the NCA.  Accordingly, the BLM also wants to start charging the daily $4 per person per day use fee that Burning Man already pays for participants now for the staff members who work during Burning Man as if they were ticket-buying participants.  This would go against a 10-year precedent whereby staff members were not included in fee calculations.  This is even more egregious when one learns that the permit stipulations require many of these staff to be working the event for health and safety purposes.  These staff members include emergency services personnel like fire, medical, Rangers and others who devote their time so that participants can safely enjoy Black Rock City.

There’s one more change the BLM wants to institute in 2006.  The BLM wants to demand that Black Rock City, LLC evicts participants if the police simply say there is “good cause” to evict.  This would give the police much more leeway than is allowed by the civil liberties guaranteed in the Fourth Amendment.  If this change goes into our stipulations then the police can simply ask the organizers to evict a participant without probable cause.

Please note that none of these changes would cause Burning Man to end in the short run.  However, there’s no reason not to believe this is the beginning of a push from a government agency to increasingly change and modify fair arrangements we have had for years.  If you support Burning Man, if you want ticket prices not to increase because of the BLM’s mismanagement, if you care about how your public funds are being spent, if you care about the future of the Black Rock Desert NCA, if you believe government agencies should be held to the letter of the law, if you value your First Amendment right to express yourself and assemble on public land, if you value your civil rights, and if you want your voice to be heard then here’s what we would like you to do:

CALL, SEND AN EMAIL, OR POSTMARK A LETTER TO THE BLM BEFORE MAY 5TH AT 4:30 PM, WHICH IS THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. The public comment period is where the general public can give their feedback about the BLM’s proposed decision about the permit, Environmental Assessment (EA) or the stipulations.  The preliminary EA is located at http://www.nv.blm.gov/Winnemucca/NEPA/burningman/burningman.htm.  The stipulations are not available to the public yet.

First we’ve provided a sample letter, but if you’d like to craft one in your own words (which we encourage) you’ll find important bullet points to consider below the letter.  Please be sure to send it to Dave Cooper so your comments get in the public record.  But, please also send copies to Gail Givens and Ron Wenker, who are also involved in the stipulation decisions.  Finally, be sure to copy Burning Man so we can track this campaign.

It has been 7 years since we’ve asked for your help at this scale. We’ve been careful to ask for your involvement when we really need it. This IS one of those times. Over 50% of participants on the event-bases census admit to being activists. So, let’s activate!

<>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/

Dave Cooper, National Conservation Area Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Winnemucca Field Office
5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard
Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921
(775) 623-1516
Dave_Cooper [Email address: Dave_Cooper #AT# nv.blm.gov - replace #AT# with @ ]

Dear Mr. Cooper:

Thank you for cooperating with Burning Man over the years.  You have helped to enrich my life by making the Burning Man event a reality.  I enjoy being able to use my public lands for recreation and self-expression as a Burning Man participant.  Moreover, I support Burning Man as the largest Leave No Trace event in the world.

I am troubled by the BLM’s plan to charge Burning Man even more money this year. The BLM already gets over $700,000 from Burning Man, which is more than sufficient.  I want to voice my opinion that this plan is not what the users of public land want.  I see the BLM’s plan to charge Burning Man for local law enforcement costs and staff working at the event as the government’s way of unfairly eroding the cooperation between Burning Man and the BLM.

The Federal Land Policy Management and Management Act (43 U.S.C. section 1733(d)) places the responsibility of enforcing state and local laws on the BLM; not on Burning Man. Also, I am appalled that the BLM would even consider charging fees for fundamental health and safety personnel that are mandated by the permit to work at Burning Man, and who do not purchase a ticket to the event.

The organizers of Burning Man do an incredible job of providing the entire necessary infrastructure for a large temporary city.  I see no valid reason to cap the population of Black Rock City.  I think this attempt is arbitrary and capricious.

Burning Man is an extremely orderly and organized event.  I believe it is the greatest experiment in self-policing community in the world, and it would be difficult for the BLM to disagree with that statement.  Furthermore, the Black Rock Rangers do an excellent job of keeping the event safe.  I strongly oppose the BLM’s plan to dictate who the organizers must evict from Black Rock City.

In summary, please remove the stipulations requiring Burning Man to pay for local law enforcement and staff at the event.  Also, please remove the population cap and the stipulation about evictions.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Cc:       Ron Wenker, Nevada State Director
Bureau of Land Management
1340 Financial Blvd.
Reno, NV 89502-7147
(775) 861-6590
Ron_Wenker [Email address: Ron_Wenker #AT# nv.blm.gov - replace #AT# with @ ]

Gail Givens, Winnemucca Field Director
Bureau of Land Management
Winnemucca Field Office
5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard
Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921
(775) 623-1501
Gail_Givens [Email address: Gail_Givens #AT# nv.blm.gov - replace #AT# with @ ]

Black Rock City, LLC
ATTENTION: BLM Public Comment
PO Box 884688
San Francisco, CA 94188-4688
political-letters [Email address: political-letters #AT# burningman.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

<>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/

Alternatively, if you choose to craft your own letter then here are the salient points to make:

1) You support Burning Man, which the BLM has touted as the largest Leave No Trace event on public land.

2) You strongly oppose the BLM’s attempt to double charge by making Burning Man pay for local law enforcement costs, and for the daily fee for health and safety staff necessary to work and support the event.

3) You believe Burning Man is a peaceful, family, art event and that there is no logical reason to cap population.

4) You oppose any attempt by law enforcement to be able to tell the event organizers to evict participants for a broadly generalized “good cause.”

5) Describe your past personal experience with law enforcement at Burning Man if applicable.

Please be respectful and courteous in your tone.  Respectful and courteous comments will be taken seriously.  Rude comments will only make this crisis worse.

<>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/ <>/  <>/ <>/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  We will keep you posted about this issue.  To be continued…

~ The Burning Man Project

Recently the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued Black Rock City, LLC (BRC) a five-year Special Recreation Permit. One of the stipulations requires BRC to pay for local law enforcement expenses in addition to the $4 per person per day in user fees that BRC already pays to the BLM. In the past the BLM has always paid for local law enforcement expenses from the user fee revenue. Legal counsel have advised BRC that this stipulation is “double dipping” that goes against the BLM’s own fee regulations. BRC has filed an appeal of that stipulation, which will be heard by the Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals. Appeals can sometimes take over a year to be decided. In the meantime BRC is paying local law enforcement expenses for 2006. If BRC ultimately prevails then the BLM will have to reimburse the expenses to BRC.

Thank you to everyone who sent public comments to the BLM earlier this year about the proposed new stipulations for 2006. BRC is satisfied with the outcome of the rest of the stipulation negotiations. The permit, stipulations and related documents are available for downloading here.