(The Center Square) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing a Saudi Arabian-backed alfalfa grower for allegedly using an egregious amount of water.
The lawsuit centers on allegations that Fondomonte Arizona abused water resources in a La Paz County basin, serving as a disadvantage to the rural community. Saudi Arabia does not legally permit the growth of alfalfa as of 2018, which is used to feed animals and serve various other agricultural purposes, according to the New York Times.
“Fondomonte’s unsustainable groundwater pumping has caused devastating consequences for the Ranegras Plain Basin, putting the health and future of the residents of La Paz County at risk,” Mayes said in a statement on Wednesday. “Arizona law is clear: no company has the right to endanger an entire community’s health and safety for its own gain.”
The lawsuit says that the basin’s water supply could be in jeopardy if pumping continues at the current rate.
“As Fondomonte continues to extract enormous amounts of groundwater, the very survival of the Ranegras Basin and the community relying on the Ranegras Basin for groundwater is at risk,” the complaint states. “Without intervention, the Ranegras Basin’s community is vulnerable to continued and worsening groundwater shortages, water quality decline, subsiding land, damage to infrastructure, and degraded equipment.”
According to a news release, the Attorney General wants the alleged water draining to be dubbed a “public nuisance” by the Maricopa County Superior Court and create an “abatement fund.”
A spokesman for Fondomonte responded to the suit Wednesday afternoon.
“Fondomonte remains committed to progressive, efficient agricultural practices on all operations. We continue to invest substantial dollars in Arizona to be the most efficient farmer and steward of water,” the company said. “We are proud supporters of Arizona Agriculture and the farming community. Fondomonte has invested significantly to bring the latest technology to conserve water on these long-established farms. Fondomonte has continued to develop responsibly during our time farming in the state and the company complies with all state and local regulations.”
Fondomonte believes the Attorney General is setting a dangerous precedent by “attempting to penalize farming and the wider agricultural industry within the state of Arizona.”
The governor’s office said in March that part of the problem had already been resolved: The ending of water pumping in the Butler Valley Basin after its leases were scrapped by the State Land Department last year.
“Today is the start of a new chapter for Arizona’s water future,” Hobbs said in a statement at the time. “I’m not afraid to hold people accountable, maximize value for the state land trust, and protect Arizona’s water security. I am proud to deliver this not just for the La Paz County community, but for the entire state of Arizona, and will continue taking decisive action to protect Arizona’s water so we can thrive for generations to come.”