I just submitted the below regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the BLM website, and I am hoping as many people in the rocketry community, and others interested in protecting the Playa for all, will also submit one.
Please submit a comment in the next 10 days. April 29th is the last day to do so.
Some of the various links to the statement submissions page I've seen did not work. The one posted by the OP here does work, just requires one click. To access the comment page directly:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage¤tPageId=139649
That link takes you directly to the page with a button in the upper right corner that says "Comment on Document."
When you submit the statement online, it asks you to refer to the chapter and section of the report you are commenting on. To make it easier for those who want to submit something without reading the whole report, Chapter 2, section 2.4 is the part that specifically refers to the rocket-launch-ending alternative C, if that's what you want to comment on.
Below is what I wrote in my statement. They are looking for comments specifically related to environmental impact, so that is what I focused on.
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I support the use of public lands by all users who respect the environment. My concern with alternative C is the potential to increase the severe damage and disruption that the Burning Man event is already creating on the Playa. Burning Man was originally meant as a gathering of like-minded people who wanted to celebrate art, music and culture while respecting the environment. For some time, I was a supporter of the event and what it stood for. Unfortunately, it has now morphed into an enormous commercial operation whose size and scope makes severe environmental damage inevitable. While I do not wish to see Burning Man eliminated, it must be kept from taking over a giant portion of the Playa for months at a time. Alternative C would do just that, and eliminate access to public lands for other individuals, families, and small, non-commercial groups who simply want to use their public lands to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Please do not allow Burning Man to accelerate the environmental damage and destruction that has been increasing on a yearly basis. Please do not allow alternative C to be implemented.
Respectfully,
John Kovac