From opposition to conditional acceptance: Corporate environmental and socio-economic engagement in critical minerals mining in Michigan

Eagle Mine, a subsidiary of Lundin Mining, is the only primary nickel producer in the United States. Located near the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the mine faced significant opposition in the beginning of the project. Community members mobilized against the mine's potential for environmental pollution, the impacts of its proposed transportation corridors, and the possible destruction of a culturally significant site. Informed by 24 interviews with political, corporate, economic, and social leaders, site visits, and an in-depth analysis of literature, this article examines the shift in community perceptions of the mine, from opposition to conditional acceptance. We introduce the concept of post-opening acceptance to describe the slow acceptance of industrial infrastructure, in this case a mine, that emerges during the operations phase, despite opposition earlier on. Post-opening acceptance of Eagle Mine was achieved in part, through community-based environmental monitoring and community economic and educational engagement initiatives. However, this acceptance remains contingent on the company's sustained performance, including the absence of acute and chronic environmental impacts, continuous community support, and a visible and accessible presence. This research brings new layers to the SLO and CSR scholarship. It places post-opening acceptance between the consensual approach that mining companies often describe in their community relationship efforts and the most conflictual community-company interactions that have long defined the extractive sector. • Eagle Mine faced an organized opposition when the project started. • Rio Tinto and then Lundin Mining established a series of community engagement systems. • Acid mine drainage pollution, transportation corridors, and Indigenous rights were at the center of contention. • Environmental monitoring, economic development, and educational engagement were developed by the companies. • Social perceptions evolved to an acceptance of the mine conditional to continuous good practices.