TONOPAH -- The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Tonopah Field Office is seeking input on an application for a special recreation permit by Best in the Desert Racing Association for the three-day Vegas to Reno off-highway race, to be held Aug. 20-22.

The race will take place over 1,000 miles of desert from just north of Pahrump to Dayton, which is just east of Carson City. The BLM is preparing an environmental assessment that analyzes the impacts of the proposed race and invites public input to identify potential issues and concerns.

Two public meetings are planned to gather input, both from 6 to 8 p.m. They are scheduled Feb. 24 at the Beatty Town Hall and Feb. 25 at the Goldfield Community Center.

The meetings will be conducted in an open house format. Comment forms will be available. Representatives from Best in the Desert and the BLM will be available to answer questions.

The first day, the drivers will race from Beatty to Tonopah. The second day they head to Hawthorne. By the end of the third day, they will arrive at the finish line in Dayton.

Time trials for the race will be conducted Aug. 18 on a five-mile course on the Upper Knight Ranch Road near Las Vegas.

The race route uses a combination of smooth and rough existing dirt roads on public lands in Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, Lyon, and Douglas counties. The proposed course includes routes that have been raced upon in the past. Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs, high clearance SUVs, 4X4 trucks and dune buggies are expected to compete. Approximately 350 race vehicles could be entered.

There will be 24 pit areas, several stop check locations and several highway and road crossings along the route.

Spectators would be able to view the race at the start and finish areas and designated pit and checkpoint areas. These areas will be monitored by Best in the Desert Racing personnel throughout the event.

Anyone who wants more information may contact Eric Williams at 775-482-7800. Written comments on the scope of the environmental assessment must be postmarked or delivered by 4:30 p.m. March 6, 2009. Scoping comments should be mailed to the BLM Tonopah Field Office, Attention: Eric Williams, 1553 South Main St., PO Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049.

Anyone submitting comments should include their address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in their comment, Those comments could be made available to the public.