Holbrook Basin — Site Analysis
2 candidate sites · Arizona · Ranked by Deployment Readiness Index (DRI)
Data: USGS PP1900 (2025)
DRI computed May 2026
DRI computed May 2026
HB-1 · Rank #1
Holbrook North
Holbrook Basin, Navajo County, AZ
Deployment Readiness Index
172
Geology-first
189
Deployment-ready
155
Geology
PP1900 Score
191 / 255
CONUS Rank
#1
Land & Acquisition
Land Manager
BLM — Holbrook FO
Mineral Estate
Federal — BLM
Surface Estate
Federal — BLM
Split Estate
No
Lease Rate
$1.50/ac/yr + bonus
Bond
$10,000
Infrastructure
Pipeline Distance
30 km
Nearest Pipeline
Transwestern Pipeline
Regulatory
AZ Framework
No dedicated statute
NEPA Class
Environmental Assessment
Permit Timeline
18–24 months
Permit Path
- Verify parcel availability in BLM LR2000 (confirm no active O&G lease)
- File BLM Form 3000-4 — Mineral & Geothermal Exploration License (Holbrook FO)
- NEPA Environmental Assessment — 6–12 months; engage NEPA consultant early
- Post $10K bond; exploration license issued for 2-year term (renewable)
- AZ Mine Inspector consultation — permit under general mineral rules
First testbed in the highest-prospectivity CONUS basin. No commercial geoH₂ drilling to date in Arizona. Precedent-setting position.
HB-2 · Rank #2
Show Low South
Holbrook Basin fringe, Navajo County, AZ
Deployment Readiness Index
148
Geology-first
161
Deployment-ready
139
Geology
PP1900 Score
~165 / 255
CONUS Rank
#2 in basin
Land & Acquisition
Land Manager
AZ State Trust + Private
Mineral Estate
AZ SLD + Private
Surface Estate
AZ State + Private
Split Estate
Yes — title search required
Lease Rate
$2–5/ac/yr AZ SLD
Bond
$5,000–25,000 (per-lease)
Infrastructure
Pipeline Distance
48 km
Nearest Pipeline
El Paso Natural Gas
Regulatory
AZ Framework
No dedicated statute
NEPA Class
AZ SEPA (no federal NEPA)
Permit Timeline
12–18 months
Permit Path
- Title search at Navajo County Recorder — confirm mineral estate owner (split estate risk)
- File AZ State Land Dept mineral exploration application (competitive bid process)
- Negotiate surface use agreement with private surface holders
- AZ Mine Inspector notification required before exploration commences
- No federal NEPA — AZ SLD environmental review applies
AZ State Land Dept actively seeks mineral development revenue — direct partnership potential. Shorter federal timeline but split estate negotiation adds complexity.
All Metrics
| Site | Rank | PP1900 | DRI Balanced | DRI Geology | DRI Deploy | Land Type | Split Estate | Pipeline km | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holbrook North (HB-1) | #1 | 191 / 255 | 172 | 189 | 155 | BLM Holbrook FO | No | 30 | 18–24 mo |
| Show Low South (HB-2) | #2 | ~165 / 255 | 148 | 161 | 139 | AZ State + Private | Yes | 48 | 12–18 mo |
Methodology
The Deployment Readiness Index (DRI) combines weighted components: geology prospectivity (40–65%), land acquisition friction (15–25%), regulatory environment (8–20%), and infrastructure proximity (7–25%). The balanced DRI (40/20/15/10 geology/land/regulatory/infra) is the primary ranking metric. Geology-first and deployment-ready presets adjust weights for different prioritization strategies. All data reflects 2025 baseline conditions. Regulatory classifications are indicative and not legal advice — verify with local counsel before project development. Source: Gelman, Hearon & Ellis (2025), USGS PP1900.