The Copper Trail
How a Chilean mining company purchased access to America's most protected wilderness
COPPER_TRAIL_INVESTIGATION
├─ lobbying_spend $4M+ (2021-2025)
├─ acres_at_risk 225,000
├─ house_vote 214-208 (Jan 21, 2026)
├─ findings_documented 44
├─ critical_findings 18
└─ beneficiary Antofagasta PLC (Chile), Chinese smelters
Executive Summary
On January 21, 2026, the House voted 214-208 to revoke protections for 225,000 acres upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The sole beneficiary is Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Chilean mining conglomerate Antofagasta PLC.
This investigation documents over $4 million in lobbying, direct campaign contributions from lobbyists to the bill's sponsor, a revolving door between Interior and the mining lobby, and evidence that extracted minerals would be shipped to Chinese smelters, not used domestically.
The Corruption Circuit
1. Bernhardt serves as Interior Secretary (2019-2021)
2. Approves Twin Metals lease renewals
3. Leaves government, founds The Bernhardt Group
4. Twin Metals hires The Bernhardt Group ($40K/quarter)
5. Bernhardt donates $1,500 to Stauber
6. Stauber sponsors HJ Res. 140 to benefit Twin Metals
Government favor leads to lobbying job leads to campaign donation leads to more government favor.
KEY_FIGURES
├─ luksic_kushner_mansion $5.5M
├─ westerman_mining_stocks $1.6M
├─ antofagasta_lobbying_2022 $1.01M (record)
├─ boundary_waters_tourism $913M/year
├─ direct_to_stauber $5,510
└─ times_debarred 0
Key Findings
"Unacceptable risk of harm to the Wilderness. Any damage could not be mitigated or fixed."
- US Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell, 2016
"The corruption that is occurring is astounding."
- Rep. Amish Ansari (D-AZ) on Westerman's $1.6M mining stock purchases
"No hard rock mines can demonstrate that acid mine drainage can be stopped once it occurs on a large scale."
- Dr. Glenn Miller, University of Nevada, Reno
The False Narrative: "Domestic Critical Minerals"
Claim: Mine would reduce American dependence on foreign sources.
Reality: Twin Metals' plan ships concentrates to "Canada or other locations" for refining.
Reality: Antofagasta has active contracts with 4 Chinese smelters.
Reality: Chile sends 53% of copper exports to China.
Reality: US only has 2 primary copper smelters with no capacity for additional production.