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Alternatives Including the Proposed Action Expected mineral development In areas of high potentlal would result In roads being developed I nto this area. These woul d not be open to recreational vehicle use. No IIllderness Alternative (No Actlonl-The entire Handles Peak WSA would be recommended as nonsultabl e for wll derness designation. Mineral Resource Development - All land within thls study area woul d remain open to appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws. Presently, there are approximately 200 mining claims with the majorl1;y concentrated In the western half of the WSA. Handles Peak Is geologically similar to an adjacent hi ghly productl ve area of the Eureka Mining District. For the purposes of analysis, It was assumed that similar vein deposits also occur In Handles Peak. The Informatlon known about this WSA does indicate a high mineral potential In the western section for the locatlon of base and precfous metals, uranium and two of the crltlcal and strategic minerals. cobalt and nickel (See Appendix 3.8). For the purpose of analysis it is assumed that one to three significant underground mines will be developed In the lake Fork drainage area. The larger of the significant mining operations would Involve a total of 50 acres and the other two would Involve no more than 25 acres each. New road construction woul d I nvol ve a maximum length of 3 miles (5 acres) per mine. Development Is also anticipated on private 1 and west of the Shel f Road I n the eastern edge of the WSA for base and precious minerals. The mine would disturb 5 to 15 surface acres. Since the area would remain open to mineral entry, It Is anticipated that there would be a contlnuatlon of new claims being staked in the WSA. It has been reported to 22 Handies Peak 8lM that exploration In the Snare Creek area has resulted In a possible ore bOdy being discovered on private land. If developed. It could result In the Federal land adjacent to It being developed also. Continued exploration actlvlty In the form of small excavatfons. road construction. and drill pad construction would disturb approximately 20 to 40 acres primarily in the western half of the WSA. Recreation - Under this alternative the area would be managed to maintain the primitive badcountry character to provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking. photography, and mountain climbing. The expected mineral development In American Basin and Campbell Creek could result In roads being developed Into this area. No recreational vehicle use Is currently permitted In the area so no further closures would be necessary. Roads that resul t from mineral development would be evaluated to determine their suitability for vehicle oriented recreation. Efforts would be made to periodically maintain the Grizzly Gulch, Sloan lake, Boulder Gulch, Cuba Gulch and Cataract Gulch trails. The estlmated current use of 4,000 RUDs woul d increase by about 5 percent annually. Wilderness Manageablll1;y Alternative Under this alternative 8,220 acres would be recommended as suitable for wilderness designation (see Map 1-2). The boundaries are delineated along topographic features or to exclude mineral development southwest of the WSA. This proposal would also Include the upper end of the vehicle way In American Basin. The boundary would parallel the lake Fork of the Gunnison River on the north and to the east, and would parallel the Cottonwood Creek Road on the south. The boundary follows a ridge line south of Boulder Gulch and the ridge enclosing Sloan lake and American Basin. This alternative concentrates designation around Handles Peak and the surrounding