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respon;e to public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and further analysis of available information. They are: (3) suitable for wilderness designation with extension of mineral withdrawal date to December 31, 1993, (4) No Action (a clarification of the No Action alternative discussed in, the DEIS) and (5) suitable for wilderness designation with modification of the eastern boundary to exclude an area of suspected molybdenum mineralization under active exploration. Environmental Consequences The environmental consequences are summarized in Table II-I. These con- sequences are considered when applying the wilderness suitability criteria. Wilderness suitability criteria is applied as follows: ~i l~_eJnes~..cap_al>_iJ-i ty The Wilderness Attribute Rating System (WARS) (see Appendix A), d, ,veloped for the RARE II process, w~s applied to the Study Area to identifr the wilderness characteristics. The WARS rating of 23 places the Oh-3e- Joyful Wilderness Study Area within the top 8% of the Colorado rO,ldless areas for wilderness characteristics. This rating is summarized as fallows: Influence on Natural Integrj.ty In fluence on Apparent Na tunllness Opportunities for Solitude Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Supplemental Attributes-Special Features TOTAL RATING Rating 6 (Very Little) 6 (Very Little) 4 (Moderate) 5 (High) __ 2__I}.!:'!JequentL- 23 (Very High) The manageability of the Study Area as wilderness involves consider- able uncertainty due to the possibility of future mir:eral resource development. Because of its size and configuration, wilderness character may be difficult to maintain if developmen1. occurs. The Study Area is recognized as having very high chalacteristics (attributes) for wilderness. Manageability as wildeJness would be difficult with mineral development. The conclusion, however, JS that the area has a high wilderness capabil ~.ty. The Study Area is ~ uitable for wilderness using the capability cr~terion. ~ J-_l~ l~..E!l_e_s_s_ _a~~i }_ap_i}_~~-y The analysis narrows the potential con:'lict between resource values to tha: between wilderness values llnd rnint'ral values. A direct comparison of '"alue is not possible due to a lack of definitive minerals data. So 1he analysis is not able to conclusjvely determin'2 the "highest and bes1. use" of the Study Area. The Study Area is shown to have high min('ral potential. The nature of the available evid'lnce does indicate a 1. kelihood of significant economic ard social valu,~ associated with pot,'ntial mineral deposits. There is an increased p')ssibility that a sigllificant mineral discovery may be fcregone if the area is designated wilclerness and the Wilderness Act mineral entry with.irawal date of Dec,'mber 1983 is applicable. iv