Connie Stump/U.S. Bureau of Land Management: "THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS SAFETY FOR THE PUBLIC."

New rules are coming for a popular recreation area that doesn't have much in the way of rules.

The issues: exploding numbers of off-road vehicles, mixed in with people who shoot guns, in an area peppered with deep mine shafts and piles of toxic waste.

The area is known as "Five Mile Pass." It's right on the line between Tooele County and Utah County, southwest of Lehi. Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst visited the area today and joins us from the newsroom. John, why is it getting so popular?

Because it's so close, less than an hour's drive from most of the Wasatch Front. And perhaps also because the hand of government has been rather invisible out there. But that's about to change.

If an earful of engine noise and a mouthful of dust are your idea of fun, this is the place for you.

KEVIN BRADFIELD/WEST JORDAN: "IT'S RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE CITY, EASY ACCESS."

For lone daredevils, and for families, 5 Mile Pass is catching on.

"IT'S JUST FUN THERE'S A LOT OF HILLS AND STUFF."

The hills were crawling with machines, and it was a light turnout for a Sunday.

CONNIE STUMP/U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: "OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS IT'S PROBABLY DOUBLED."

There are a lot of guns, with no formal place to shoot. Targets that are decidedly informal.

TARGET SHOOTER: "THIS IS OUR OLD COOLER, HAH, HA, SOON TO BE DESTROYED. (thunk)"

A BLM survey at 5 Mile Pass showed that gunplay is the number one worry. The agency is launching a year-long process to figure out what the rules should be. They promise to somehow protect the rights of shooters.

CONNIE STUMP/U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: "BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE CONCERNS OF VISITORS OUT HERE."

And what to do about this problem: 200 abandoned mine openings. One of them swallowed a jeep a couple of years ago.

And a mountain biker today might have gone faster if he'd realized he was screaming down a pile of toxic mine waste laced with arsenic.

CONNIE STUMP/U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: "WE'RE CONCERNED. WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW CONCERNED TO BE. SO WE'RE JUST CHECKING THAT OUT NOW."

The B.L.M. says no one knows yet what the new rules are going to be. They're asking the public's help in deciding.

All at 7pm:
March 23 Tooele County Bldg.
March 24 Lehi High School
March 26 Salt Lake BLM office

They have 3 public meetings planned, starting a week from tomorrow in Tooele, Lehi and Salt Lake.