Borah Peak Wilderness
The Study Area
The Bor h
of
acres
National
WSA
is
alternative
federal
the
with
acre
the
EIS
which
tract
Policy
lands
and
are
an
was
all
the
adjacent
shown
202
Section
wilderness
the
as the
15
lands
The
and
was
Peak
west
mountain
of the
in
Federal
the
northwest
WSA
is
lines
by power
of
bounded
The
Idaho
Mackay
the north
on
WSA
consists
of
and
The
WSA
east
includes
3100
by the Challis
steep west-sloping
terrain
Land
Policy
EIS
no wilderness
and
filed
Management Act
in
1989
September
alternative
and
an
all
FLPMA
Three
wilderness
and
was
included
alternatives
plus
in
the
were
additional
acreage
EIS
included
and
miles
mahogany
Impact Statement
FLPMA
Borah
County
alternative
action
WSA
Custer
of state
Gulch
scattered
proposed
to
in
acres
Environmental
Management Act
acres
located
by Sawmill
south
under
studied
is
3100
surrounds 640
sagebrush-grass
was
in
analyzed
780
on
ID-47-4
and
Small Wilderness
Statewide
Land
lands
Forest
Vegetation
The
WSA
Peak
BLM
--
Study Area
in
is
Proposal
the
study
process
recommended
map
788
for
under
authority
wilderness
granted
designation
in
Section
202
The
entire
3880
of
the
acres
Federal
of
Recommendation and
Rationale
3880
recommended
acres
for
wilderness
recommended
acres
for
nonwilderness
The recommendation
WSA
The
boundary
environmental
The
WSA
shares
lies
west
mile
six
of
over
The western
is
the
U.S
extremely
steep
U.S
primitive
unconfined recreation
adjacent
The area when combined
which
approaching
geologic
wilderness
at
12655
the
evidence
top
of
designation
The recommendation
Appendix
lists
all
with
feet
of
is
the
WSA
the
wilderness
all
on
the powerful
for wilderness
inholdings
II
point
seems
Challis
help
and
the
RARE
the
the highest
is
all
use
and
naturalness
alternative
would
its
in
and
to
offers
would
It
practical
cause
means
outside
acres
more
presents
the least
to avoid
the
logical
from
change
minimize
or
drops into
not
the
spread
out as
been
has
Forest
gentle
offers
area
offer
these
two special
This
which
U.S
the
recommended
would
Services
and
for wilderness
clear
provide
and
identified
Unit
Idaho
that
Peak
with
easily
very
edge
lands
spectacular
far
occurred
1983
in
that
can
When
western boundary
for solitude
opportunity
and
opportunities
visitors
attract
mountain
as the eye
its
outstanding
outstanding
features
on
terrain
an
gives the
see
Currently
The
the
The
second
USGS
first
Borah
is
the feeling
visitor
feature
is
is
Peak
of
the outstanding
studying
the
area
and
characteristics
further
provides
Unit Borah
RARE II
WSA does
Earthquake
preserve
will
that
eastern
Service
itself
world and
would
its
II
when combined
corridor
Forest
By
RARE
Service
The
powerline
with
itself
Forest
border
combined
the
is
recommendation
Also 780
as wilderness
acres
outstanding
impacts
common
slope
The
offers
acreage
alternative
term
WSA 3100
Peak
additional
preferable
the long
Borah
entire
The
wilderness
western boundary
logical
the
designate
as
environmentally
environment
the natural
adverse
to
is
recommended
are
apply
additional
to
the
state
information
789
land
on
inholdings
acquisition
acquired
of
through
inholdings
and
exchange
split
estate
or
purchase
minerals
35
32
______
________
4p_tct
T3ou82sd
38
___________N
sy
.NWr
.R03
..
i-
3.41
134
WELL
._..C_/f_.__J94F
-f5
J%3
iSP
41
SF
SF
Spnngs7
ii
I2
c67j
Spn
.5
/C H4
C
13
_H
19
22
21
23
22
24
19
21
22
23
33
33/
26
3_V43
p4
Valley
211d
26
24
_29
25
51
543
.F
29
I_.72
28
121
26
%59319
p34
941
.7
P33
36
31
033
32
34
35
32
414y
2ed
________________
LKH8NS
TA5IDRDNP
_J31
ci
HJ
NN
SF
7SF
LV
._F
1Q 18_4_t4
7-p4_
34
7r-
L4
14
94
21
14
29
_______
29
23
i425
32j434
344
Hr
_1_
28
AA23k28sc6272
14\
42
582
.1/
1/
.511
R.21
TI
IlIHhlIlIP
R.22
R.23
R.22
RECOMMENDED
FOR
WILDERNESS
RECOMMENDED
FOR
NONWILDERNESS
lIffihlIlMIlIll
SPLIT
ESTATE
STATE
LAND OUTSIDE WSA RECOMMENDED
PRIVATE
FOR WILDERNESS
Scale
ri
Miles
D-47-4
BORAH
PEAK
PROPOSAL
JANUARY
1989
Table
Land Status and Acreage
--
Summary
Study Area
of the
BORAH PEAK WSA
Wilderness
Within
BLM
surface
Split
Estate
and
3100
subsurface
BLM
surface
state
lnholdings
Study Area
only
640
private
3740
Total
Within
BLM
BLM
Split
Estate
Total
BLM
for
Wilderness
Boundary
3100
WSA
outside
Estate
Recommended
WSA
within
Split
the
780
WSA
outside WSA
within
Land
Recommended
Wilderness
3880
state
State
outside
land
640
private
Inholdings
WSA
Within
the
Area Not
Recommended
for
Wilderness
BLM
Split
Total
for
Estate
BLM
Land
state
Inholdings
Appendix
report
Lands
split
that
is
detailed
estate
have
Not
Recommended
Wilderness
description
lands are
federal
private
defined
minerals
but
of
and
inholdings
only
as those
non-federal
split
lands
surface
estate
with
tracts
federal
should
estate
791
be
included
surface
classified
within
and
in
the
nonfederal
this report
study
For purposes
subsurface
by the owner
of
this
minerals
of
the surface
Criteria
Wilderness
Considered
Recommendations
the Wilderness
in Developing
Characteristics
Naturalness
The Borah
the
of
WSA
Peak
mountain
tallest
human
in
The
Idaho
consists
imprints
natural
predominantly
is
adjacent
of vehicle
and
ways
few human
with
RARE
the
area
is
the
along
shoulder
steep
fairly
and
naturalness
located
improvements
spring
The
imprints
enhances
Area
II
dominates
northern
the
of
WSA
and
boundary
Borah
The
Peak
majority
around
Birch
Springs
The predominant
pine and
in
fir
is
vegetation
When
an outstanding
combined
with
sagebrush-grasslands
with
the
RARE
adjacent
scattered
stands
of
WSA
the
lands
II
mountain
mahogany which
excellent
an
provides
way
gives
scattered
to
of transition
example
zones
environment
natural
Solitude
The Borah
adjacent
the
gives
WSA
Peak
RARE
larger
visitor
vegetative
offers
of
sense
and
screening
Primitive
The Borah
contains
The
high
in
outstanding
mountain
opportunities
are
WSA
Earthquake
would
is
focal
and
of
mountain
lower
terrain
feeling of
the
solitude
when
especially
border
The
canyons
outside
WSA
can
sights
the
unit
features
changing
due
However
provide
and
considered
is
rapidly
sounds
are
to
present
of the
portion
zones
vegetation
the
WSAs
These
and
lack of
not
are
Recreation
combination
with
the
RARE
II
Area
for
Opportunities
and
and
RARE
II
Area
is
large
relatively
diverse
and
rugged
unconfined recreation
lowr
the
wildlife
acre
116000
adjacent
for primitive
viewing
Borah
elevation
hunting
WSA
Peak
cross-country
skiing
provide
outstanding
snowshoeing
hiking
sightseeing
and
and
Features
contiguous
offer the
of
lessen the
solitude
long
excellent
Special
the
six-mile
steep opening
openness
do
peaks of the
photography
and
they
that
opportunities
backpacking
The
solitude
for
opportunities
shares
and Unconfined
WSA
Peak
and
which
general
imposing but
significantly
outstanding
Area
II
with
destination
1983
visitor
The
RARE
point
faulting
II
Unit 4-120
for the
offers
an outstanding
area
Borah
Also
an outstanding
opportunity
to
Peak
the
which
WSA
characteristic
view
faulting
792
at
includes
of
12655
feet
evidence
in
of
earthquakes
elevation
faulting
in
is
that
natural
the highest
occurred
point
in the
environment
in
Idaho
Challis
Preservation
in the
Diversity
National
the
Assessing
and Features
Wilderness designation
ecosystem
are
eight
is
BLM
as
in
study
of Natural
Represented
the
of
represented
other
Diversity
Wilderness
Borah
Peak
the National
areas
in
the
Preservation
System
Systems
by Ecosystems
WSA
would
add
an ecosystem
Wilderness Preservation
state
under
study
with
System
this
not
presently
by four
ecosystem
This
in
represented
areas
designated
information
is
Idaho
with
76129
summarized
However
acres
on
Table
TABLE
Ecosystem Representation
NWPS
Bailey-Kuchier
Areas
areas
classification
Rocky Mountain
acres
Other
areas
BLM
Studies
acres
Forest
Province
NATIONWIDE
Sagebrush
Steppe
76129
Ecosystem
23
247843
IDAHO
Sagebrush
Steppe
162710
Ecosystem
793
this
There
the
Expanding
Days
Within
The Borah
number and
Peak
WSA
acreage
of
is
for Solitude
Opportunities
Driving
within
designated
Time Five Hours
five-hour
areas
drive
and
of
one
BLM
other
or Primitive
of
Major Population
major population
study
Recreation
areas
center
within
Boise
five-hour
Centers
Idaho
drive
Table
of
the
summarizes
population
Table
Wilderness
Opportunities
of Major
Population
NWPS
Population
Boise
Idaho
Centers
Areas
areas
acres
16
4741570
794
for
Residents
Centers
Other
areas
141
BLM
Studies
acres
5374250
center
the
the
Balancing
Idaho
has
the
Wilderness
largest wilderness
in
area
System but would
further
the
would
Wilderness designation
48
contiguous
not
Areas
Frank
2.2 million acre
wilderness
within
areas
Church
River
the National
No
of
Return
Wilderness Preservation
Idaho
in
area
the
states
distribute
help
wilderness
concentrate
of Wilderness
Distribution
Geographic
Manageability
The Borah
Fences would
which
The
would
better
and Minerals
WGM
Inc
Mining
WSA
is
nonmetallic
All
Borah
of the
The
subsurface
of
150C
lineaments
to
on
the
The
WSA
direct
is
direct
WSA
of
order
in
make
boundary
control
to
ORV
more manageable
preserve
with
the
acquired
and
access
regular
boundary
would
patrolling
RARE
for the adjacent
II
values
for the
GEM
assessment
Borah
for the
WSA
Peak
accumulation of metallic minerals uranium
No
evidence
metallic
moderately favorable
as
environment
the
Borah
or
nonmetallic
for the
and
favorable
is
edge
No
of the
based
unfavorable
Impacts
on
Resources
as
occurrences
accumulation of
both potential source
host
unfavorable
Borah
Peak
for saleable
rocks
for
comparative impact table
designation
or nondesignation
the
is
shows
are
in
and
1983
The Borah
thorium
reported
and
deposits
in the
units
and
oil
and
gas
reservoir
based on
rocks
limited
in
occur
direct
the
any saleable
is
for
classified
as
low-to-high
the lower
encompasses
and
unfavorable
as
area
potassium deposits
commodities
these
this
for
temperature
elevations
40C
entire
to
along major
low to high temperature
moderately
to
based
be
favorable
underlain
limited
on
or other
by
direct
and
other
leaseable
for
alluvial
leaseable
sand and
fan
evidence
commodities
commodities
gravel
deposits
Geological
underlie
40C
deposits
the
effects
area
as
on pertinent
wilderness
795
resources
for
all
the alternatives
WSA
based on
The remainder
mapping
based
the
indicates
commodities
summarizes
of the
WSA
low favorability
area
evidence
classified
resources
This
sodium
for
WSA
mapping
of
contain
to
as having
evidence
indirect
on
known
rocks
Geological
as unfavorable
classified
is
indirect
on
The remainder
faults
classified
is
WSA
Peak
based
resources
evidence
evidence
classified
following
direct
classified
is
possible
of
including
WSA
would
be
would
to
combined
WSA
presence
The
limited
geothermal resources
southwestern
limited
the
prepared
low favorability
geological
geothermal
Peak
limited
Consultants
Geological
WSA
Peak
or along
The Borah
of
the
as wilderness
boundaries when
Values
based on
regional
150C
over
side
as wilderness
areas wilderness
the
as having
The southwestern edge
over
the west
WSA
inside
be managed
reasonably
identifiable
WSA
the
evidence
the
can
logical and
land
state
WSA
the
provides
of
640 acres
along
of
protect
and
minerals
underlying
section
Resource
classified
outside
portion
The recommendation
built
inclusion
Energy
Peak
One
Area
II
recommended
the
area
probably be
necessary
Area
and
the
in
present
RARE
adjacent
be
WSA
Peak
now
values
considered
of the
the
Table
Summary of
Comparative
WSA
ISSUE
TOPICS
ID-47-4
the Impacts by Alternative
BORAH PEAK
NO WILDERNESS
ALL
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
WILDERNESS
PROPOSED ACTION
WILDERNESS
TIONAL
ALL
PLUS
ADDI
WILDERNESS
ACREAGE
Impacts
on
Proposed
Impacts
USFS
Borah
Peak
No Impact
on
values
Wilderness
Values
Values
timber
Impacts
Winter
Impacts
on Deer
and Antelope
lost
on
harvest
No Impact
wilderness
Proposed
Wilderness
97
acres
due
to
Values
areas
values
on 3880
preserved
wilderness
Proposed
enhanced
slightly
Values
preserved
acres
acres
No Impact
No Impact
areas
enhanced
slightly
on
3880
Range
No Impact
on Motorized
Recreation
10
visitor
Impacts
on Energy and
Mineral
Resource
No Impact
Management
Impacts
on
Resource
Impacts
on Timber
Livestock
and
to
use
10
for and
would be
lost
No Impact
No Impact
Opportunity
of
days
to explore
resource
develop
ORV
use
annually
Opportunity
on 3100
acres
No Impact
visitor
displaced
explore
resource
develop
ORV
annually
Opportunity
on 3880
Grazing
of
days
displaced
for
would be
and
lost
acres
No Impact
Management
Harvest
MBF
796
annually
to
harvest
would
14
be
lost
Opportunity
MBF
annually
to harvest
would
14
be
lost
Local
The
and
Social
and
social
Economic
economic
factors
Considerations
not
were
Summary of WSA-Specific
formal public
During
WSA
Peak
Public
and
Those
use
favoring
the
fact
opposed
was
higher
Borah
the
area
one
commented on
has
stated
Boise
Falls
ElS and
the
in
study
Comments
27 written
EIS
wilderness
issue
significant
and
opposed
comments were
WSA
for the
Three
Idaho
Challis
wilderness
received
of
commenters
Seventeen
designation
of
which
opposed
14
designation
Seven
persons testified
any kind
addressed
specifically
wilderness
However
the
WSA
supported wilderness
comments were
no
Borah
for the
received
WSA
Peak
to wilderness
than
Idaho
at
Public
the Draft
favored
for the
wilderness
that
of
held
specifically
for the
specifically
Those
were
hearings
designation
review
comments
Eleven
considered
portion
designation
the
in
EIS
the
beauty of the area
of the
faulting
concerned
were
and
left
that
the
with
area
its
value
as
logical
extension
behind by the Challis earthquake
general
did
not
have
lock-up
of the
any special
land
qualities
of the
of
Borah
Peak
RARE
II
Area
1983
effects
making
on grazing
it
deserving
Historical
Society
costs
of
that
ORV
wilderness
protection
The Bureau
Indian
The Idaho
other
of
Affairs
State
agencies
Reclamation
the
Historical
did
the
Environmental
not
Society
identify
Idaho
Department
Protection
voiced
specific
its
Agency
concern
conflict
with
of
Health
and
that
any
the
and
U.S
Welfare
Fish
archaeological
of
and
and
the alternatives
797
the
Idaho
Wildlife
historical
State
Service
all
inventories
commented on
had
not
been
the
the
Bureau
Draft
completed
of
EIS
The
APPENDIX
Estimated
Costs
--BORAH
of Acquisition
Within Areas Recommended
of
Type
Estate
Number
Legal
Total
Description
Acreage
Surface
Holdings
Designation1
by
Estate
of
Owners
for
Ownership
by
WSA
Nonfederal
of
Type
Ownership
PEAK
of
Estate
Estimated
Cost
Cost
of
Acquisition
Subsurface
Presently
Estate
Proposed
Land
Preferred
Method
for
Acquisition
of
of
Acquisition
Costs
Processing
in
Costs
N/A
5000
in
Acquisition
No
Parcel
22
Sec
Estimated
640
State
Yes
State
Esehange
36
flThe
mineral
holdings
estimated
and
costs
with
estates
in
no
listed
simitar
way
in
this
represent
an
in
appendix
characteristics
offer
to
to
no
those
purchase
way
formal
represent
included
in
the
or exchange
WSA
at
the
appraised
The
cost
vatse
estimates
estimate
are
of the
land
for purposes
included
in
798
this
or
mineral
of
estate
establishing
appendix
hut
are
range
rough
estimates
of potential
costs
based
on
to the
sales or
government
exchanges
of lands
of acquiring
or
nonfedeml