Exploratory mining near Mount St. Helens is now one step closer to happening.

The U.S. Forest Service found no reason to object to an application by Ascot Resources Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., to prospect or explore for minerals in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest about 12 miles northeast of the Mount St. Helens crater.

The agency issued a draft decision to consent to the Bureau of Land Management approving Ascot’s plans.

Starting Thursday, the public will have 45 days to object to the Forest Service’s decision.

But, according to the decision notice, “objections will be accepted from only those who’ve previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities.”

In the draft decision, Cowlitz Valley District Ranger Gar Abbas acknowledged “a great deal of concern” that approving the exploratory drilling would pave the way to a new mine, but he emphasized several times throughout the document that wasn’t the case.