Two years ago the the U.S. Bureau of Land Management limited abusive, cross-country off-road vehicle use surrounding Factory Butte because wide-open ORV use within this unique badland complex was significantly impacting the area's scenic qualities and two endangered cactus species. Unfortunately, many ORV users ignored these regulations and blatantly roared past BLM signs into the cactus populations and habitat.

Now, BLM has released its proposed resource management plan for the region. Did the BLM protect iconic Factory Butte's outstanding scenery or the endangered cactus from ORV impacts? Not even close! The BLM has conjured up an unmanageable plan that reopens thousands of acres to the same abusive ORV use that warranted the current restrictions. Rewarding illegal ORV use with this destructive giveaway will only jeopardize the two endangered cactus species and ultimately allow vehicle tracks to dominate the exceptional scenery.

The Tribune suggests that we are the idiot generation concerning our public land ("No management plan: BLM makes gift of land to off-roaders, drillers," Our View, Aug. 12), but really it's the BLM that's the idiot agency!

Nancy Newsom

Salt Lake City