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The U.S. Forest Service has given its consent to allow exploratory mining near Mount St. Helens.

Ascot USA Inc. wants to explore for minerals in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest about 12 miles northeast of Mount St. Helens and adjacent to and extending northeast from the boundary of the National Volcanic Monument.

On Tuesday, the agency released a final decision to consent to the Bureau of Land Management to give prospecting permit applications to Ascot.

In the consent document, Cowlitz Valley District Ranger Gar Abbas, was clear that his approval does not approve a mine.

“My consent decision to the BLM facilitates only prospecting (exploration) activities within the prospecting permit areas,” he wrote. “It is not a mineral leasing or development (mining) proposal.”