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<br />Wilderness values would be protected <br />throughout the entire WSA although valid <br />existing rights would allow for the <br />development of about five small scale <br />mines. This could result in the loss of <br />wilderness values on about 3,000 acres. <br /> <br />Al uni te woul d not be developed resulting in <br />the potential of 4 mill ion tons of alunite <br />ore not being produced annually. With the <br />exception of projected valid rights the <br />high potential for discovery in this WSA <br />would be foregone. <br /> <br />The recreation setting would continue to be <br />a primitive backcountry type throughout the <br />WSA. Without alunite development use would <br />increase in the eastern portion of the <br />WSA. Overall the current use of about 5000 <br />RUDs would increase by about 9 percent <br />annually. <br /> <br />No Wilderness Alternative <br /> <br />All 40,575 acres would be recommended as <br />nonsuitable for wilderness designation. <br /> <br />None of wilderness values in the WSA would <br />recei ve 1 egi s I ati ve protecti on. As a <br />result of projected mineral activity <br />wilderness values would be lost on about <br />11,000 acres although in the long term <br />wilderness values are expected to be lost <br />on the entire 40.575 acres. <br /> <br />The entire WSA would remain open to mineral <br />entry. Development is projected to occur <br />in Cooper and Silver Creek, along the <br />northern edge of the WSA and for alunite on <br />Red Mountain. <br /> <br />The recreation setting would continue to be <br />a primitive backcountry type except in the <br />vicinity of the alunite mine where it would <br />change to one dominated by the sights and <br />sounds of mining activity. Use would <br />increase by 5 percent annually. <br /> <br />Alunite development would disturb soils on <br />585 acres, impact water quality and <br /> <br />displace 50 to gO deer and 100 to 130 elk. <br /> <br />Wilderness Manageability Alternative <br /> <br />This alternative would recommend 37,530 <br />acres suitable and 3,045 acres nonsuitable <br />for wilderness designation. <br /> <br />Wilderness values on 37,530 acres would be <br />afforded the protection provided by <br />wilderness designation. However. as a <br />result of valid existing rights, some <br />mineral development could potentially occur <br />within this area in Silver and Cooper <br />Creeks. Although the projected mines would <br />only disturb 20 to 40 acres they could <br />impact wilderness values on approximately <br />2,000 acres in those drainages. Wilderness <br />values would potentially be lost on all of <br />the 3,045 acres recommended nonsuitab1e as <br />a result of two small scale mines and <br />continued mineral exploration. <br /> <br />Except as noted above mineral exploration <br />and development woul d be precl uded on the <br />37,530 acres recommended sui table. The <br />high potential for discovery in this <br />portion of the WSA would be foregone. The <br />3,045 nonsuitable acres would remain open <br />to entry. Alunite would not be developed <br />resulting in the potential 4 million tons <br />of alunite ore not being produced <br />annually. The recreation setting would <br />conti nue to be a primiti ve backcountry <br />type. Use of this area for hiking, camping <br />and mountain climbing would increase by <br />about g percent annually. <br /> <br />Conflict Resolution Alternative II <br /> <br />This alternative would designate 11,140 <br />acres as suitable and 29,435 acres <br />nonsuitable for wilderness. <br /> <br />Wilderness values on 11,140 acres would be <br />afforded the protection provided by <br />wilderness designation. However, as a <br />result of valid existing rights, some <br />mineral development could potentially occur <br />within this area in Silver and Cooper <br />Creeks. Although the projected mines would <br /> <br />iv <br />