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<br />I" <br /> <br />V. <br /> <br />CRITERION 5 - Socio-economic Effects <br /> <br />A. Local and regional employment and income <br /> <br />Selection of either the wilderness or nonwilderness alternative would <br />have a negligible effect on the local and regional employment and income. <br /> <br />I :~ <br /> <br />B. Mineral impacts <br /> <br />i <br />, <br /> <br />, ,c <br />, <br /> <br />Additional annual mineral extraction of approximately $12,600,000 and <br />$34,000,000 would be necessary to significantly affect employment in Alamosa <br />County and the surrounding San Luis Valley respectively. BLM geologists do not <br />believe this additional extraction is likely. <br /> <br />, ~ <br /> <br />C. Trends <br /> <br />, ~ <br />i i <br />, <br /> <br />Both Alamosa County and the San Luis Valley have significantly lower <br />per capita income than Colorado and the nation. Estimations show that this <br />condition is persisting and the gap is widening. Unemployment in the San Luis <br />Valley is significantly higher than the state average, particularly in those <br />counties other than Alamosa County. Population in the county and the area has <br />been stagnant over the last 10 years. These factors indicate the continuation <br />of a depressed economy. <br /> <br />D. National values resulting from wilderness designation <br /> <br />Net benefits of the wilderness alternative to users are estimated at <br />$60,000. Net losses, primarily to ORV users, would be in the range of $5,000. <br /> <br />(,i "''''60 <br />.,1 ~, ;... <br /> <br />A-47 <br />