When a company holds mining claims on the federal minerals beneath privately owned surface, it generally needs the surface owner's cooperation to work efficiently — and the terms of that access are negotiated. Below, Diamondback Copper's initial Surface Use Agreement form (dated November 2025) is set beside the protections owners are asking for in a counter-proposal.
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Every entry on the left reflects Diamondback's own draft language. The dollar figures on the owners' side are intentionally left open — the point here is the level of protection, not the price. Nothing on this page is legal advice; any agreement should be reviewed by an independent Arizona mining/natural-resources attorney.