Burning Man organizers say federal officials are being "excessive" in their request for accommodations at the festival, including flushing toilets and 24-hour access to ice cream.

Documents acquired by the Reno Gazette-Journal show that Bureau of Land Management officials are requesting facilities for officials staying at Black Rock City that could cost organizers up to $1.2 million. Organizers are currently negotiating with BLM officials over permits for this year's festival, which could cost up to $5 million (including the facilities) but have refused the requests for the accommodations. "We're getting close to the event, but we feel that there are more common-sense and cost-effective solutions," Burning Man spokesman Jim Graham told the Gazette-Journal.

Officials say more staff will be on hand at this year's festival to ensure that everyone's safe, especially after the death of a festival-goer last year. "We're very concerned about where we put people that are part of our staff and that are part of the support and permitting," said a BLM official. "Safety, security and health is paramount. That, I will not forgo."

The facility that appears to be the point of contention is known as the Blue Pit, and will house high-level officials and "VIPs." A blueprint of the proposed Blue Pit facility includes flushing toilets, vanity mirrors, and couches, and also included in the documents was a brochure for portable showers. Also included in their demands was a full menu of food and drinks, including 24-hour access to ice cream and Choco Tacos.

"BLM is not significantly increasing its staffing this year and it appears... that some of these additional requests are above and beyond what is needed under regulatory requirements for BLM to administer to permit," organizers wrote in a response to BLM officials.

In response to the report, Nevada Senator Harry Reid wrote a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on Friday. The letter read:

While I agree that the BLM should take its permitting duties seriously and work with Burning Man to both guarantee the safety of its participants and the protection of the environment, providing outlandishly unnecessary facilities for the BLM and its guests should be beyond the scope of the permitting requirements. Part of Burning Man's philosophy is self-reliance and living with the elements is part of the experience. Flush toilets and laundry facilities can be found about ten miles away in Gerlach, Nevada, if BLM's employees need such amenities.

Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada also called the request a "big problem," and said, "Fifteen VIP accommodations, and soft-serve ice cream 24-hours a day. With all due respect, those dots do not connect."

This year's festival is scheduled to take place August 30 to September 7. The permit is typically issued by BLM a few weeks before the festival takes place.