A private company farming alfalfa in Arizona’s Butler Valley has been unable to drill two additional wells on state land there, a political flashpoint in drought-hit Arizona. and may reduce the use of groundwater.
Democratic Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays said Friday that the drilling permit for the Saudi-owned company Fondmonte had been revoked, after challenging state agencies in early April over discrepancies in application documents. They included lists of various landowners and conflicting information about whether the wells were new or replaced.
About a week before Maze’s announcement, the Arizona Department of Water Resources notified Fondmonte that the permit had been revoked at the request of the Arizona Land Department. The Arizona Land Department did not respond to questions about the permit or the impact of its expiration.
Permits for the well were granted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in August 2022, according to state well records. That’s two months after the Arizona Republic revealed to Fondmonte and other companies a lover’s land lease that would allow them to use groundwater without oversight. Water in this area has been designated as a future source for Phoenix and other urban areas.
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“It is outrageous and frankly unacceptable for the country to even consider giving new wells so that the Saudis can pump millions of gallons of water to grow alfalfa for their cattle. “well.
“The amount of water pumped from one of these wells can supply about 30,000 Arizona residents in a day, which is pretty amazing considering the total population of La Paz County is just over 16,000. that’s it,” she said. “This is the water that belongs to the people of Arizona and needs to stay on the ground in La Paz County.”
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Fondmonte has several other wells on site near Bowes in western Arizona. Company executives and a spokeswoman declined to answer questions for this article, including whether Fondmonte would appeal the permit or its agricultural impact.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Water Resources declined to comment on Mays’ role in ending the permit.
Land and water use became a key part of Mays’ campaign for Attorney General, and she spent her first months in office opposing the deal and looking for a way to free the state from them. Katie Hobbs He said Mays did not have sole authority to take action, but criticized the agreement.
Mays said he will continue to work with Hobbes “to protect the people of La Paz County and the groundwater supply of Arizona.”
Contact reporter Stacey Barchenger stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.follow her twitter @sbarchenger.
