Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998 | 9:54 a.m.
The proposal also could end large-scale events, such as the annual Burning Man festival, land-speed record attempts and mining operations.
"The draft environmental impact statement is in response to the ever-increasing public use occurring in the Black Rock Desert," said Mike Bilbo, of the BLM field office in Winnemucca.
A management plan preferred by the agency would limit the number of visitors, curtain the use of off-road and all-terrain vehicles, close some areas and roads and create designated camping areas.
The plan and impact statements affects 452,086 acres of the Black Rock Desert in Washoe, Humboldt and Pershing counties.
"The hearings will be in a workshop format to find out what the public thinks of the plan," Bilbo said. "There is a full range of interests to be heard from, from preservation to development and the general recreational public as well."
Some critics argue the plan is too restrictive.
"So-called environmentalists and bureaucrats want to kill Burning Man, and in doing that they are putting restrictions on every user," said Ed W. Nellis, a hunter and camper.
The first hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Sacramento, Calif..
Hearings will be held the following three days in Reno, Lovelock and Winnemucca, and on Nov. 9 in Cedarville, Calif., and Nov. 10 in Gerlach.
archive
