WSP00531

• File Number: 8200.766
• Description: Gunnison River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 8/1/1987
• Author: BLM
• Title: Gunnison Basin and the American Flats-Silverton Wilderness - Final Environmental Impact Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

~lternatives Including the Proposed ~ction

on the limited amount of information
known. ~ favorable economic and
technologic environment would have to exist
before any actual development would occur.

In the Redcloud Peak, Handies Peak and
~merican Flats WS~s, there is an extensive
amount of existing mining claims,
particul arly in those areas with high
potential for discovery. The validity of
these claims is unknown at this time and
would only be determined when a plan for
development is submitted to BlM. However,
it is assumed that given the large number
of claims and the high potential s of the
areas for discovery, that a certain number
of these claims would ultimately be found
to have valid existing rights. Except as
specifically identified in the following
discussions, these valid claims are
predicted to be sufficient to allow for the
same levels of mineral development with or
without wilderness designation.

Within the Redel oud Peak WS~. alternati ves
address the development of an alunite
deposit located in the eastern portion of
the WS~ on Red Mountain. ~ssumptions have
been made regarding whether or not the
deposit would be developed under each
alternative. ~t this point there is no way
of knowing if development will or will not
take place. ~ discussion of the history of
this development is necessary in order to
understand the potential for any activity
taking place.

Earth Science, Inc. applied for a
preference right lease of 1,667 acres of
public land for the purpose of developing a
deposit of alunite (potassium aluminum
sulfatel. ~uthorization to prospect for
leasable minerals is granted through the
issuance of a prospecting permit. If a
deposit of a valuable mineral is discovered
as a resul t of prospecting, and if the land
is chiefly valuable for that mineral, a

14

Redcloud Peak

lease shall be issued to the applicant.
Earth Selence, Inc. originally applied for
a prospecting permit in 1970 and it was
issued in 1974. Exploration drilling
comprised of three drill holes varying in
depth from 306 feet to 6BB feet, was
completed in 197B. In March of 1979, Earth
Science, Inc. submitted the "Initial
Showing" for a preference right lease
application.

~ condition in the prospecting permit
issued to Earth Science stipulated that
unless the deposit could be mined without
signi ficant adverse en vi ronmental effects,
no lease would be issued.

During preparation of the envi ronmental
assessment to analyze impacts of the
alunite proposal the Congress placed a
prohibition on the processing of all leases
within wilderness study areas.
Consequently the E~ and deci sf on on whether
or not to issue a lease has been put on
hold. Therefore it has become necessary to
speculate on the likelihood of development
for the purposes of the analysis in this
EIS.

Uncertainties related to the potential
development of the alunite include making
the decision discussed above; specifically
whether it can be mined without significant
adverse effects. If it is determined that
it can be and a lease is issued, the
company must also submit a "Final Showing"
that documents that the alunite can be
economically extracted. There is no
indication at this time that this condition
coul d be met.

If all the conditions in the leasing
process are met there would be a valid
existing right that would allow development
even with wilderness designation.

Given the above there is no way to state
with certainty that the deposit would or