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l'l!', ~ on S uJ_j .. Alternatives Including the Proposed Action glacial valleys including Boulder Gulch, Campbell Creek, Grizzly Gulch, and the head of American Basin. This would exclude the areas around Jones Mountain-Snare Basin and south of Cottonwood Creek. The Cottonwood Creek Road and mineral activity nears Jones Mountain-Snare Bas;n physically separates this area from the Handies Peak portion of the ~SA. ~t.i_~e!~l_~e_sQl:I!:~e__D_e.Y~lopment - Subject to valid existing rights, all lands within the 8,220 acres of the Handies Peak WSA recommended as suitable would be withdrawn from appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws. Handies Peak is geologically similar and adjacent to a highly productive area of the Eureka r~ining District. For the purposes of any analysis, it was assumed that similar vein deposits also 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 ctitieal and strategic minerals cobalt, nickel. and mOlybdenum in the western half of the WSA. Presently there are approximately 200 mining claims. The Lake Fork area is heavily staked and private land is scattered throughout this basin. Due to the capital needed and economics involved in developing successful mining operation, most claimants with valid existing rights would probably sell their claim to one or two consolidated interests. For the purpose of analysis, one to three significant underground mines woul d be developed in the Lake Fork dra i nage areas. The 1 arger of the significant mining operation would involve a total of 50 acres of surface di sturbance and the other two would involve no more than 25 acres each. New road construction would be built with a maximum length of 3 miles (5 acres) per mine. Development is also anticipated on private land west of Handies Peak the Shelf Road in the eastern edge of the WSA for base and precious minerals. The mine would disturb 5 to 15 surface acres. The nonsu;table acreage would remain open to mineral development under the mining and mineral leasing laws. There would be further exploratory work outside of this alternative's southwest boundary for base and precious minerals and molybdenum. This would disturb about 10-20 acres. RecreaJion - Suitable portions of the area WQIJld be managed to provide a primitive backcountry setting for mountain cl imbing, hunting9 fishing. nature study. hiking9 and photography. Recreation activity woul d center around the main trails up to Handies Peak (14,048 feet) in Grizzly Gulch and American Basin via Sloan Lake. These trail heads would be clearly marked and the trails periodically maintained. Approximately 75 percent of the 4000 RUDs occurring in the WSA are within the suitable area. Based upon studies showing regular yearly increase of about 9 percent in the use of wi 1 derness I more effort woul d be put into visitor information and education. Recreational vehicle use is not permitted at this time and no additional closures would be necessary. The expected development of mineral resources in American Basin and near Campbell Creek would result in some motorized use associated with that use. These areas would not be open to motorized recreation use. Projected mineral development in the Campbell Creek area woul d al so change the setting to one influenced by motorized use but thi s porti on recei yes very 1 i ttl e recreational use. The nonsuftable portion of the WSA would be managed to maintain a primitive backcountry setting for hikers. hunters, fishermen. and photographers. Recreation use waul d continue to be centered around the Cataract Gulch and Cuba Gulch trails, which are used by hikers and hunters. The area is 23