The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke said Wednesday the candidate does not explicitly oppose the proposed Gogebic Taconite iron mine proposal but believes it should be reviewed under the state’s former mining laws. Credit: Mike De Sisti

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke on Wednesday clarified comments she made in an interview last week on whether she would fight to stop a proposed iron mine in northern Wisconsin.

Asked by Wisconsin Public Radio last week if there was something she could do to stop the proposed $1.5 billion mine, Burke said, "Well, I will certainly look at every tool that I have, and to make sure that we are protecting our natural resources."

But she did not explicitly say that she would work to stop the mine, Burke campaign spokesman Joe Zepecki noted Wednesday.

Zepecki said Burke is opposed to the mine proposed by Gogebic Taconite because it would be constructed under regulations approved last year that Burke believes weaken state environmental protections for iron mining.

When the news report said that Burke "wants to put on the brakes" on the mine, Zepecki said he asked Burke, "Did you intend to say that you will stop the mine?"

"And she said, 'No, if it's going to go forward, we have to do a better job of protecting the quality of the air and water.'"

Burke was not available to clarify her comments on Wednesday afternoon, Zepecki said.

Zepecki said that Burke, who is heading to the region for a three-day campaign swing beginning Thursday, isn't opposed to iron mining in northern Wisconsin if a mine was reviewed under the state's former iron mining laws.

The Legislature rewrote iron mining laws in 2013 on Gogebic's behalf. Advocates of the changes said environmental standards were not lowered, but opponents said the changes weakened protections for wetlands, surface water and groundwater.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed the iron mining legislation and has touted it for removing impediments to iron mining while protecting natural resources.

In the radio interview, Burke said the new iron mining legislation "weakened our environmental regulations" and is "not in the best interests of Wisconsin, or northern Wisconsin."

She said she supported legislation sponsored by Democratic senators Bob Jauch of Poplar and Tim Cullen of Janesville along with Republican Dale Schultz of Richland Center that streamlined timelines but did not change environmental protections in iron mining laws.

That bill was rejected by the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Gogebic is proposing to construct an open pit mine covering four miles of private land in Ashland and Iron counties.

The company has not yet filed an application and is conducting field work this summer that will be a part of an environmental impact statement.

The project will require approval from the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Journal Sentinel reporter Patrick Marley contributed to this report from Madison.