Attorney General Gary King, environmentalists and a New Mexico ranch owned by billionaire Ted Turner are appealing new state regulations on groundwater pollution by copper mines.
King, the Gila Resources Information Project, Amigos Bravos and Turner Ranch Properties filed their appeal on Thursday with the state Court of Appeals. They're objecting to rules adopted last month by the Water Quality Control Commission.
Critics say the rules provide mining companies too much leeway to pollute groundwater and violate state law prohibiting water contamination above certain standards.
A spokesman for the state Environment Department said the commission's rules are the most stringent of any in a copper producing state.
Turner owns a New Mexico ranch near a copper mine in Sierra County that a company wants to reopen.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.