The goal of domestic production of critical minerals faces frequent challenges around community acceptance due to economic, social, and environmental justice concerns. This project focuses on understanding community perspectives around critical mineral developments in the United States, which is a necessary precondition to achieve the specific goals of Justice40 and general aspirations around community benefits. Through a mixed method study of current and proposed projects in Idaho, Minnesota, and Missouri, this project will identify the conditions under which social acceptance is obtained or withheld and why, as well as the opportunities for communities to participate in and benefit from these developments.
