Attorneys for a Saudi-owned alfalfa farm want a judge to toss a bid by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to halt its pumping of groundwater. The lawyers say her lawsuit against the company Fondomonte is illegal.
Last year, Mayes sued Fondomonte, claiming its pumping of rural groundwater goes against public nuisance laws.
But the company’s lawyers claim that lawsuit ignores a state law which says agricultural operations conducted with good practices are presumed to be reasonable and do not constitute a nuisance.
That is unless the farm has a substantial adverse effect on public health and safety.
Arizona has cancelled land leases held by Fondomonte, but it still is able to farm in other private land areas. The outcome of the lawsuit could impact how farms use groundwater in rural parts of the state.
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On Sept. 8, KJZZ water reporter Alex Hager presented your questions and concerns to a panel of experts.
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