BLM monitoring oil drip on playa

[teardropper]

This year the BLM will be doing a small study of the effects of oil dripping from the motors and rear ends of vehicles in BRC. samples will be taken from specific and random areas. My first Burn I heard something about preventing oil drip and brought a couple peices of cardboard that I nailed under those two spots. I found only a couple of spots with only a small amount of oil. Since then, I have had work done one the rear end, with new gaskets and wheel seals and a new pan gasket on the engine. Though I can't detect any oil, I believe I will do the cardboard again. I wonder if we should include some type of shielding (what kind is best?) in our leave no trace protocol? What do you think? If BLM detects oil drip on playa, they may require some action. Should we try to get in front of this?

[ygmir]

I'd have to wonder, as far as scale goes, if it'd matter?
vehicles drive all over the playa most of the year, dripping leaking and spilling.
Of course, we should do what we can, and that cardboard idea is a good idea, IMHO, because it will absorb it directly and leave no real chance of it going anywhere.

[BBadger]

First check your own driveway for drip areas to determine if you have a problem.. If it can't be fixed, at the playa I'd nail down a pan under the drip location to catch the oil, maybe with some cardboard too, to prevent splashing.

[theCryptofishist]

The previous study was referenced in the permitting EA.

[Ugly Dougly]

I wonder if AfterBurn has documented any oil spots or if BLM is just keeping a bargaining chip...

[BBadger]

The oil drips are the root cause of all the dunes that ruin the windsurfing experience!

[lemur]

fuck yer obscure sport, hippie.

i want to go do a shitload of drugs and blow shit up.

[teardropper]

I wonder if AfterBurn has documented any oil spots or if BLM is just keeping a bargaining chip...

Can't be totally sure, but I think not on documentation. It sounded like an "I wonder if..." type of question.

Yeah, Yggy, cardboard sounded better than tarp. It absorbed the few drips I saw. My rig mat be old ('77), but it ain't junk. I keep it up for self protection. But some stuff I see in BRC - makes you wonder if they make it back.

As far as the playa sailing... obscure, maybe, but those things are fast. And cool.

[theCryptofishist]

No. They did a survey a few years ago and found oil. This is a follow up.

[trilobyte]

The oil drip study absolutely does matter. The last one was in 2002 and is outdated, I think that regardless of the outcome it's important to update the data. Very important for future environmental impact studies (it was a factor in the one that was just released in March). They'll select a random sampling of different types of vehicles and then monitor what happens with those vehicles throughout the week.

On the subject of oil drips, now's the time to take care of that engine that's leaking oil. If you can't get that taken care of, then at least put down a tarp or oil pan (weight the oil pan so it doesn't blow away) once you park. If you're renting a truck, assume it leaks oil and put something down.

[Gonzo Frothwood]

How are the oil drip studies from when there was bomb testing coming along?

[Canoe]

I'd have to wonder, as far as scale goes, if it'd matter?
vehicles drive all over the playa most of the year, dripping leaking and spilling...

BRC occupies a small area (around 6.2 square miles, or ~3%) of the ~200 square miles of Black Rock Playa. BRC is located in one of the least biologically significant areas of the playa and with one of the lowest counts for the cyclic aquatic life of the playa. I'm guessing that BLM putting BRC on this location isn't an accident. Having BRC located there seems like a good precaution should, down the line, it turn up that something from accumulated BMs turns out to have had an effect, as due to the BRC location it will have had the least possible impact on playa life. This is more likely for BRC than random vehicles driving around the playa, as there is a greater likelihood of accumulating something with concentrated activity year after year, even though it's on the area of least possible significance. (we'll ignore the risk of random vehicles going where they will, and into more sensitive areas of the playa, and what a blown engine or mass leak from a gas tank may do at such a location - not relevant to what we can do at BRC)

Addressing oil leaks is a proactive way of addressing something, while I believe not currently known to cause a problem, that down the line could turn out to have been an (accumulating?) issue that could have been addressed, minimized or contained.

I drive a 1986 AMC Eagle. It drips. That isn't going to change much.
I'm thinking a 4'x8' sheet of Masonite/hardboard ($14), fuzzy size up, and park all four wheels on it.
Addresses wheel/rubber "scars" and absorbs small drips at the same time. It can't blow away and I only need four nails to hold it while I drive on/off it?

[motskyroonmatick]

What is the sample area? A nearly dormant week long camping area or the entry and exit road. Who is figuring vehicle operating hours in to this whole equation?

Some fuck nut could toss a few hundred gallons of crude around the playa right before the burn and really taint the sample. Cost benefit analysis. The playa is actually better off with burning man cleaning up after everybody than not cleaning up after anyone. The world is simple.

Yeah I'll be bringing cardboard but just cause I want the right to camp on das play 4 ever.

Wait! I thought we weren't supposed to bring extra packaging. I'm so confused now.

[Bob]

Just don't be an asshole.

One year the org designated an Art Car Camp. One of them dug a pit and dumped his crankcase out. Assholes happen, and that's why it gets attention.

[lemur]

isnt oil organic?!

[Bob]

Does the environmental impact of Burning Man include exfoliation?

[MrTetris]

I use these on myboat. Keeps oil in when they get wet....

You can buy them individually at marina/boat stores.

Also I think I will rubberband one around my blow by hose on my semitrucks engine this year...

http://www.absorbentsonline.com/economy ... _rolls.htm

[Canoe]

... Keeps oil in when they get wet...

I have a stash of these (not necessarily same brand). Friend is in the gas industry; they have huge rolls of it for spills. I keep some remnants in car. Absorbs gas/oil, but not water.

Guy on bike topping up his oil for a trip back to his city; spills oil in puddle with cop watching, not amused. Grab a ~10" square sheet, soaked up oil leaving water in puddle looking spotless (but I sure wouldn't drink it).

But, need a large amount to do under the whole car. It's fairly robust, but how to hold it there for an uber wind...

I would suspect, but have not tested, that for a fuel/oil spill on-playa the soil could be shoveled into a kiddle pool, add water and stir to float the oil & gas, and then remove it by these sheets. Left sitting for a while, a lot might evaporate off first too.
Not recommending anybody test this, but if there is a spill it would be an interesting experiment on some of the cleanup soil.

[Elliot]

I like the idea of a sheet of plywood, held down by parking two tires on it. I'm lucky that Millicent does not leave puddles, but there are always a couple of drops hanging underneath. Probably leaks a little bit while running down the road. A sheet (4 feet by 8 feet) of chip board (I think the formal name may be Oriented Strand Board) costs only something like 12 bucks. Thin Hardboard, as mentioned above, may cost even less, but I have not bought any lately.
It may be worth the effort to bring (for those of us with large enough vehicles), even if only to show the BLM that we do care. Burning Man has a fabulous record of leaving no trace, and we must keep it that way indefinitely.

[Canoe]

A sheet (4 feet by 8 feet) of chip board (I think the formal name may be Oriented Strand Board) costs only something like 12 bucks. Thin Hardboard, as mentioned above, may cost even less, but I have not bought any lately.

$14 a sheet
fuzzy side up to absorb fallen drips before they run off

[Misti]

Parking on a tarp works for us. also keeps us from leaving those black tire prints we saw from most camps.