A sign in front of Fondomonte's 10,000 acre farm in La Paz County shows that, as of July 2024, the company is hiring.
In a letter, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said she thinks more can be done to limit a Saudi-backed alfalfa farm in La Paz County.
"I am deeply concerned by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (“ADWR”) recent issuance of a drilling permit for a new, 1000 to 1500 foot deep, 3000 GPM well issued to Fondomonte and located on Fondomonte’s alfalfa farm in Vicksburg, La Paz County on the Ranegras Plain Basin."
AZPM broke the news of Fondomonte filing a Notice of Intent to drill a new well last week, and was cited in the letter regarding similar concerns by residents in Cochise County.
Mayes said she would rather action be taken immediately than follow Hobbs' plan of first pursuing a fix through the legislature before taking executive action.
"ADWR must immediately revoke the drilling permit and initiate a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding its issuance," the letter states. "The public relies on your Department to be the first line of defense against potential environmental hazards in addition to safeguarding our water resources for future generations."
She asked that ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke disallow the new well within 10 business days and launch an investigation.
An ADWR spokesperson sought to clarify the record, noting that the use of the term 'permit' is not accurate. ADWR cannot turn down a Notice of Intent to drill if the notification is filed properly.
Arizona law has very limited regulations on wells outside of managed areas, though Mayes says the department's director has a statutory duty to periodically review if an area meets the criteria for management.
In response, Governor Katies Hobbs issued this statement.
"Because of Governor Hobbs' actions, four Fondomonte leases have been ended, millions of gallons of water every year will not be pumped unchecked by a big corporation, and Arizonans will have greater access to the water that’s in their own state.
The only elected official who has taken any action to hold Fondomonte accountable is Governor Hobbs, not the Attorney General. That's because the Governor is interested in real action to secure our water future instead of empty grandstanding. Right now, Governor Hobbs' actions to hold Fondomonte accountable are subject to administrative litigation in part due to reckless statements from the Attorney General like the one she made yesterday. And if the Attorney General were to ever follow the Governor's lead and take action to hold Fondomonte accountable, her statements could similarly sabotage those actions."
In March, the state canceled four land leases for Fondomonte in the Butler Basin totaling 3,520 acres. A lease totaling 3088.43 acres in the Vicksburg/Ranegras Plain groundwater basin was not impacted and lasts through 2031.
For more on Arizona-Saudi agricultural history and relations download Tapped, AZPM's podcast about water.
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