Burning Man, BLM to discuss VIP compound

Burning Man organizers and U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials are expected to meet Wednesday to discuss a recent BLM request for VIP facilities at this year's event in the Black Rock Desert.

"Our goals for this meeting are to discuss options for better controlling BLM's spiraling costs," Burning Man spokesman Jim Graham said in an email Monday. "We believe BLM's costs for managing the permit should be reasonable, documented and justified — as required by BLM regulations.

"During this meeting we hope to begin the dialogue about ensuring that these cost guidelines are met."

In early June, BLM officials asked for comforts such as flushing toilets, washers and dryers and showers with endless hot water in a compound for high-level government officials staying at the event, according to documents obtained by the Reno Gazette-Journal.

BLM Director Neil Kornze met with Rep. Mark Amodei last week, prompting BLM Deputy Director Steve Ellis to announce that the agency would review the initial requests to ensure that they were cost-effective.

The BLM Nevada state office will be tasked with the review, according to a federal BLM office spokesman. A BLM Nevada spokesman stated that he could not discuss the review Monday and referred all questions to the Washington office.

Were Burning Man to agree to the initial requests, the compound would cost the event more than $1 million, bringing Burning Man's 2015 permit fees to about $5 million, according to Graham. The renderings of the compound obtained by the Reno Gazette-Journal showed more than a dozen suites set aside for VIP visitors, but they do not indicate who the visiting dignitaries will be.

Other BLM staff stay at the more spartan headquarters, according to the renderings.

BLM officials also were demanding food items, including Choco Tacos, M&Ms, licorice and Chobani Greek Yogurt. The food would be available to VIP officials and the 150 BLM staff staying at headquarters.

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.

The BLM Winnemucca District office oversees the permitting process.

BLM Winnemucca District Director Gene Seidlitz last month stated he and other officials were concerned about the safety and security of the event after assessing the 2014 event.