For the first time in its history, the U.S. Forest Service will have the authority to issue an opinion that could reject opening a mine. That word comes from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose department oversees the Forest Service, which is considering a proposal to open the Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson.

In an Oct. 23 letter to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., Vilsack said no decisions had been made but the Forest Service could issue a recommendation of “no action,” which could block development of the mine.

Previously, the Forest Service had maintained that under the 1872 Mining Act, mining is a priority for public lands as long as no laws are violated its only option was to take a stance to “mitigate” impacts of a mine.

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