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<br />Purpose and Need <br /> <br />access to valid mlnwg claims, patented <br />mining claims. and State mineral <br />lands. Conversely, access to these <br />lands could have adverse effects on <br />wilderness values. Access is an issue <br />in American Flats, Redc10ud Peak, and <br />Handies Peak WSAs. <br /> <br />5. Effects on Water Qual ity - Water <br />qual i ty cou1 d be affected by road <br />construct; on and mi neral expl orat; on <br />and development. As a result of val id <br />existing rights, mineral development is <br />expected to be the same wi th or wi thout <br />wilderness designation in all but the <br />Redcloud Peak WSA. The Red Mountain <br />alunite deposit is projected to occur <br />only in the absence of wilderness <br />designation. In addition, given the <br />potential of mineral discovery in the <br />Redcloud Peak, Handies Peak, and <br />American Flats WSAs exploration <br />activity is expected to occur in these <br />WSAs if not designated wilderness. <br />Therefore, water quality is an issue <br />for these three WSAs. <br /> <br />6. Effects on Soil Erosion Soil <br />erosion could be affected by <br />development activity associated with <br />mineral exploration and development. <br />As a result of val id existing rights in <br />four of the WSAs, development is not <br />expected to be significantly different <br />with or without wil derness <br />designation. Development of the Red <br />Mountain alunite deposit in the <br />Redcloud Peak WSA is expected to occur <br />only if the area is not designated <br />wilderness. In addition, mineral <br />exploration is expected to occur in the <br />Redcloud Peak, Handies Peak, and <br />American Flats WSAs if not designated <br />wi 1 derness. Therefore, due to <br />projected development and/or <br />exploration activity, soil erosion is <br />an issue for these three WSAs. <br /> <br />7. Effects on Wildlife Wi] dlife <br />could be affected by mineral <br />exploration and development. As a <br />result of valid existing rights <br />development ;s not expected to be <br />significantly different with or without <br />wilderness designation in four of the <br />WSAs. Development of the Red Mountain <br />alunite deposit in the Redcloud Peak <br />WSA is expected to occur only if the <br />area is not designated wil derness. <br />Exploration activity is projected to <br />occur in Redc10ud Peak, Handies Peak <br />and American Flats WSAs if not <br />designated wilderness. Therefore, due <br />to projected mineral exploration and <br />development, wildife is an issue in <br />these three WSAs. <br /> <br />8. Effects on Air Qual ity Air <br />quality is identified as an issue in <br />the Redcloud Peak WSA as a resul t of <br />alunite development. Activities in the <br />other four WSAs are not predicted to be <br />significantly different with or without <br />designation and, therefore, air qual ity <br />;s not an issue for these WSAs. <br /> <br />The following issues were identified in <br />scoping, but were not selected for detailed <br />analysis in this EIS. The reasons for <br />setting each of these issues aside are <br />discussed below. <br /> <br />1. Effects on Livestock Operations - <br />Concerns were raised that 1 ivestock <br />operators cou1 d be requi red to modify <br />their operations within designated <br />wilderness areas in a manner that would <br />have s 19n1 ff cant adverse economi c <br />impacts on their business. This issue <br />was considered but dropped from <br />detailed analysis because the BLM's <br />wilderness management policy provides <br />for the continued use of wilderness <br />areas for livestock operations at <br />historic levels. Although the <br /> <br />6 <br />