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iBl734 This environmental statement (EIS) analyzes the affects of wilderness designation or nondesignati on on fi ve Wi 1 derness Study Areas (WSAs) totalling 65,415 acres. These areas are within the Gunnison Basin and American Flats/Silverton planning units. A 11 s ti ng of these WSAs and a sunvnary of the proposed action for each is shown in the following table. Study Acres Acres Authority Non- Suit- Area FLPMA Suitable able Redcloud Peak Sec. 603 10,175 30,400 (CO-030-208 ) Handies Peak Sec. 603 10,975 7,885 (CO-30-24l) American Flats Sec. 202 (CO-030-2l7 ) 1,505 3,205 Bill Hare Gulch (CO-030-085 ) 370 Sec. 202 Larson Creek (CO-030-086 ) Sec. 202 900 25,625 39,790 AL TERNATlVES Redcloud Peak (CO-030-208) Proposed Action Alternative 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 protection provided by wil derness designat1 on. 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 mines would only disturb 20 to 40 acres they could impact wilderness values on approximately 2,000 acres in these drainages. In additi on, wil derness val ues woul d be lost on the 10,175 acres 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 woul d be precl uded on the 30,400 acres recommended suitable. With the exception of the projected valid ri9hts, the high potential for discovery in this portion of the WSA would be foregone. The 10,175 nonsuitable acres would remain open to entry. The recreation setting would continue to be a pri mi ti ve backcountry type except in the vicinity of the alunite mine where it would be changed to one dominated by the sights and sounds related to the minin9 activity. Exi s ti n9 use of 4500 Recreati on User Oays would increase by 9 percent annually in the suitable portion and the 500 RUOs in the nonsuitable area would increase by about 5 percent annually. Alunite development would disturb soils on 495 acres, impact water quality and displace 50 to 80 deer and 100 to 130 elk. All Wilderness Alternative The entire 40,575 acres would be recommended suitable under this alternative.