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<br />Purpose and Need <br /> <br />4. Effects on Endangered Species <br />Wfldllfe and vegetation inventories and <br />consultation with the U.S. Fish and <br />Wfl dl1fe Servi ce di d not identify any <br />threatened or endangered species in the <br />WSAs. Therefore, this issue .was <br />dropped from further consideration. <br /> <br />5. Effects on Timber Production - None <br />of the 1 ands in any of the WSAs are <br />under intensive forest management. <br />Intenshe management was determined <br />incompatible with the primitive <br />recreation use in this area. <br />Therefore. timber production is not an <br />issue. <br /> <br />'-. <br />6. Effects on Taxes and Income - Both <br />patented and unpatented claims within <br />the WSAs generate property taxes for <br />Hinsdale and Ouray Counties. The <br />unavallabll ity of these lands for <br />mining claims, if designated <br />wilderness, would reduce this tax <br />income. Total tax revenues for both <br />patented and unpatented claims <br />constituted less than three precent of <br />the county's total tax income. <br />Therefore, tax loss is not considered a <br />significant issue. With the exception <br />of Redc10ud Peak WSA the level of <br />mineral development is predicted to be <br />the same with or without wll derness, <br />and therefore effects on income are <br />considered only for Redc10ud Peak. <br /> <br />AL TERNATlVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM <br />DETAILED ANALYSIS <br /> <br />American Flats WSA <br /> <br />One comment received suggested the area <br />between Engineer Pass and the south <br />boundary of the WSA be considered as an <br />alternative for study as wilderness. <br />This area was eliminated during the <br />intens he inventory phase and <br />therefore, cannot be considered by the <br />BLM during the study phase. <br /> <br />Handies Peak WSA <br /> <br />Several comments were received which <br />recommended that that BLM 1 and south <br />and east of Cottonwood Creek and the <br />adjacent U.S. Forest Service land be <br />found as suitable for wilderness <br />designation. The area of National <br />Forest land was analyzed by the Forest <br />Service and subsequently released from <br />wilderness consideration during the <br />RARE II process. Consequently. it was <br />not appropriate to consider this area <br />in the ElS. <br /> <br />Redcloud Peak WSA <br /> <br />Originally. the Conflict Resolution I <br />Alternative for this WSA included the <br />Alpine Gulch drainage. The boundary of <br />this alternative was modified as the <br />resu1 t of a comment at the Dever <br />workshop that Al pine Gulch was a <br />possible access route for the <br />development of the alunite deposit on <br />Red Mountain. Since the purpose of the <br />original a1ternathe was to provide a <br />non-wilderness alternative for the <br />alunite development and possible <br />transportati on routes, the boundary was <br />modified accordingly. <br /> <br />PRESENT MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />These WSAs have been managed to protect <br />wilderness resource values since passage of <br />the Federal Land POllcy and Management Act <br />of 1976 (FLPMA). Section 603(c) of FLPMA <br />states: <br /> <br />During the period of review of such areas <br />and untfl Congress has determined <br />otherwise, the Secretary shall continue to <br />manage such lands according to his <br />authority under this act and other <br />applicable laws in a manner so as not to <br />impair the suitability of such areas for <br />preservation as wilderness. subject, <br />however, to the continuation of existing <br />mining and grazing uses and mineral leasing <br />in the manner and degree in <br /> <br />8 <br />