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f!;" ';. .~ ~) n. J. This environmental statement (EIS) analyzes the affects of wilderness design.tion or nondesi gn.ti on on fi ve Wil derness Study Areas (WSAs) totalling 65,415 acres. These areas are within the Gunnison Basin and American F1ats/Silverton planning units. A listing of these WSAs and a summary of the proposed action for each is shown in the following table. Study Acres Acres Authori ty Non- Suit- Area FLPMA Suitable able Redcloud Peak Sec. 603 10,175 30,400 (CO-030-20B) H.ndies Peak Sec. 603 10,975 7,B85 (CO-30-24l) American Flats Sec. 202 (CO-030-2l7 ) 1,505 3,205 Bill H.re Gulch (CO-030-085 ) 370 Sec. 202 Larson Creek (CO-030-086 ) Sec. 202 gOO 25,625 39,790 AL TERNATIVES Redc10ud Peak (CO-030-2081 Proposed Action A ltern.the I) (Conflict Resolution Under this alternative 30,400 acres would be recommended as suitable and 10.175 acres would be recommended as nonsuitable for wilderness designation. o o iii SUMMARY Wilderness values on 30,400 acres would be afforded the protecti on provi ded by wilderness designation. However, as a result of valid existing rights, some mineral development could potentially occur within this area in Silver and Cooper Creeks. Although the projected mi nes woul d only disturb 20 to 40 acres they could impact wilderness values on approximately 2,000 acres in these drainages. In addition, wilderness values would be lost on the 10.175 .cres recommended nonsuitable if a large scale alunite mine and two other small scale mines are developed and continued exploration takes place. Except as noted above mineral exploration and development would be precluded on the 30,400 acres recommended suitable. With the exception of the projected valid rights. the high potential for discovery in thi s porti on of the WSA woul d be foregone. The 10,175 nonsuitable acres would remain open to entry. The recreation setting would continue to be a primitl ve backcountry type except in the vicinity of the alunite mine where it would be changed to one dominated by the sights and sounds ....l.ted to the mining .ctivity. Existing use of 4500 Recre.tion User O.ys would incre.se by 9 percent annually in the suitable portion and the 500 RUOs in the nonsuit.ble area would incre.se by .bout 5 percent annu.l1y. Alunite development would disturb soils on 495 acres, imp.ct water qual ity and displace 50 to 80 deer .nd 100 to 130 elk. All Wilderness Alternative The entire 40,575 acres would be recommended suitable under this alternative.