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Alternatives Including the Proposed Action alternative would be managed to maintain a primitive backcountry setting to provide opportunities for hiking, hunting. fishing, and photography. No recreation vehicles are currently permitted in the area so no further closures would be necessary. Expected mineral development in the northern portion of the WSA would not alter recreation actions for that area. The anticipated development of the Red Mountain alunite deposit would result in the recreation setting in this area being dominated by the sights and sounds of the ml ni ng acti vity. Roads resulting from this development would be evaluated to determine their suitability for recreation vehicles. Handies Peak (CO-030-241) Proposed Action (Conflict Resolution Alternative) Under this alternative 7,885 acres would be recommended as suitable for wilderness designation (see Map 1-2). This is the same as the DEIS Conflict Reso1 uti on Alternative except the eastern boundary now excludes the private lands near Campbell Creek that are subject to mineral development and the northern boundary now includes the north face of Whitecross Mountain. Mineral Resource Development - Subject to valid existing rights, all lands within Handies Peak WSA recommended as suitable would be withdrawn frOO! appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws. Handies Peak is geologically similar and adjacent to a highly productive area of the E~reka Mining District. For the purposes of analysis, it was assumed that similar vein deposits occur in the Handies Peak WSA. Although no site specific mineral investigation has been done in this area, the information indicates a high potential for the location of base and precious minerals, uranium and indications of the critical and strategic minerals cobalt, nickel, and molybdenum in the western ha1 f 20 Handies Peak of the WSA. Presently, there are approximately 200 mining claims located primarily in the western and northwestern portion of the WSA. For the purpose of analysis, it is assumed that one to three significant underground mines wou1 d be developed in the Lake Fork drainage area within the suitable area. The larger of the significant mining operations would involve a total of 50 acres of surface disturbance and the other two would involve no more than 25 acres each. New road construction would involve a maximum length of 3 miles (5 acres) per mine. The remaining nonsuitable acreage would remain open to mineral development under the mining and mineral leasing laws. There could be further exploratory work in the nonsuitab1e area in the southwest portion of the WSA for base and precious minerals and molybdenum. This woul d likely disturb 10 to 20 acres as a result of small excavations, drill pads and road construction. Development is anticipated in the nonsuitab1e area in the southeastern portion of the WSA opposite the Shelf Road for base and precious minerals. The mine wou1 d di sturb no more than 15 surface ae res. Recreation - The 7,885 acres recommended as suitable include the areas of highest recreation use. Recreation use would continue to center around the ascent of Handies Peak (14,048 feet) from the northeast via Grizzly Gulch. from the southwest via Sloan Lake and to a lesser extent from the southeast via 80ulder Gulch. The Grizzly Gulch, Sloan Lake and American aasin areas a1 so attract recreationists on their own merits. This area would continue to be managed to provide opportunities for hiking, nature study, mountain climbing. photography, and