Understanding precisely what it includes would be difficult for someone with lots of time to study the plan, and nobody has lots of time. In fact, the BLM is only accepting comments through Jan. 24, 2008. (check its Web site: www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/richfield/planning.html)

That's hardly enough time to get an overview. And, if you want to voice concern not only with that particular plan, but with the millions of acres addressed in five other BLM plans for federal land in Utah that have been published in the past two months, you are out of luck - and nearly out of time.

The BLM's Richfield Field Office oversees 2.1 million acres in Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Garfield and Kane counties. Within its jurisdiction are mountain ranges, canyons, mesas and deserts, areas that can easily be damaged by motorized vehicle overuse and by the pounding of oil and gas exploration.

Nevertheless, the BLM's preferred management plan would allow drilling on 79 percent of the land and OHV use on 90 percent.

Even considering the Bush administration's disregard for the fragility of arid Western lands and its voracious hunger for energy, this plan seems dangerously out of whack. It would tip the scales recklessly toward unfettered trampling of public recreational, scenic and archaeological resources.

And the chosen plan will dictate how this huge region will be managed, or mismanaged, for decades.

Both conservation groups and OHV advocates are rightly complaining about the BLM's rush to publish all six plans - governing 11 million acres - close together so that comment periods overlap. It is simply unfair and unreasonable to expect the public at large and environmental and recreation groups - both quiet and motorized - to make educated comments in only 90 days.

It has taken up to three decades for the BLM to study these areas and come up with management plans. The federal agency should grant comment periods of at least 120 days to give those who will be most affected a chance to respond.