Current:Home > BackBurning Man narrowly passes environmental inspection months after torrential rain upended festival-InfoLens
Burning Man narrowly passes environmental inspection months after torrential rain upended festival
View Date:2024-12-23 11:29:21
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The organizers of the Burning Man festival narrowly passed their environmental inspection after mass torrential rains closed roads, jammed traffic and forced many to walk miles barefoot through muck, leaving trails of debris in the remote Nevada desert, according to a Wednesday report from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Burning Man organizers had just over a month to clean up any remnants of the makeshift city built across over 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) of the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada as part of their agreement to use federal land for the festival. Each year, nearly 80,000 artists, musicians and activists gather for a week of camping, partying and performances.
An unusual summer storm left tens of thousands stranded in ankle-deep mud before fleeing, calling into question how much of the festival’s “Leave No Trace” principle could be followed. Each year, attendees vow to pack up everything they brought to the makeshift city, leaving the sprawling stretch of federal land as it was before they arrived.
The festival passed 109 of the 120 randomly generated inspection points, along with five of six “points of interest” designated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, according to the report. Had they failed one more point, they would not have passed the inspection.
A passing grade hinged on inspectors finding less than one square foot of debris per acre.
This year’s clean up was “significantly more challenging” due to rain from the event, which buried debris, hardened mud and made cleanup much more difficult for the volunteers, according to the report.
The area became dotted with abandoned vehicles, furniture, tents and trash. Most years, the dry desert floor is harder and easier to navigate.
Still, a narrow passing grade is nothing new.
Burning Man organizers passed the Oct. 7, 2022, inspection — “but it was extraordinarily and alarmingly close,” the restoration team’s manager wrote, adding that last year’s was one of the “messiest playas in recent history.”
That year, the organizers passed 112 of the 120 inspection points — meaning they were four foiled inspection points away from failing.
Despite another close call this year, organizers hailed cleanup crews and volunteers that stayed after the festival.
“The best of the Burning Man community shined through at this year’s event,” said Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell in a press release. “Participants rose to the challenge and came together with innovative solutions to problems and incredible expressions of generosity.”
____ Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Stern on X, formerly Twitter: @gabestern326.
veryGood! (515)
Related
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Shares Reaction to BFF Teddi Mellencamp's Divorce
- A co-founder of the embattled venture capital firm Fearless Fund has stepped down as operating chief
- Billy Ray Cyrus Accuses Ex Firerose of Physical, Emotional and Verbal Abuse Amid Divorce
- Chase Briscoe to take over Martin Truex Jr. car at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025 NASCAR season
- 'Bizarre:' Naked man arrested after found in crawl space of California woman's home
- Totally Cool recalls over 60 ice cream products because they could contain listeria
- Midwestern carbon dioxide pipeline project gets approval in Iowa, but still has a long way to go
- 32-year-old purchased 2 lottery tickets this year. One made him a millionaire.
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- New Jersey man flew to Florida to kill fellow gamer after online dispute, police say
Ranking
- Inside Dream Kardashian's Sporty 8th Birthday Party
- Episcopal Church is electing a successor to Michael Curry, its first African American leader
- 2024 Tour de France: How to watch, schedule, odds for cycling's top race
- Sienna Miller Shares Sweet Insight Into Family Life After Welcoming Baby No. 2
- Cleveland Browns’ Hakeem Adeniji Shares Stillbirth of Baby Boy Days Before Due Date
- The AP is setting up a sister organization seeking grants to support local and state news
- 3 ways the CDK cyberattack is affecting car buyers
- States fail to track abuses in foster care facilities housing thousands of children, US says
Recommendation
-
Rita Ora Says Liam Payne “Left Such a Mark on This World” in Emotional Tribute
-
New Jersey man flies to Florida to attack another player over an online gaming dispute, deputies say
-
Why the stakes are so high for Atlanta Hawks, who hold No. 1 pick in 2024 NBA draft
-
Vanderpump Rules Star Lala Kent Shares Pregnancy-Safe Skincare, Mom Hacks, Prime Day Deals & More
-
The Army’s answer to a lack of recruits is a prep course to boost low scores. It’s working
-
More than 150 rescued over 5 days from rip currents at North Carolina beaches
-
African nations want their stolen history back, and experts say it's time to speed up the process
-
Most Americans plan to watch Biden-Trump debate, and many see high stakes, AP-NORC poll finds