Poultry companies' counter not unexpected
OKLAHOMA - Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's poultry lawsuit is turning into exactly what we feared - escalating court action that only creates a greater division between residents of Arkansas and Oklahoma and delays environmental protection for Oklahoma's streams.Edmondson filed suit against 14 poultry companies earlier this year, accusing them of polluting Oklahoma waters - including the Illinois River, a state scenic river - with chicken waste high in phosphorus.
The poultry companies responded early this month with counteraction, naming 161 potential public and private contributors of phosphorus as well. Those named include Oklahoma towns, housing developments and resorts.
Edmondson called the poultry companies' action a "stunt," but what did he expect?
Yes, the poultry industry has been slow to improve its operations to prevent chicken waste from entering streams. But as we stated earlier, Oklahoma has done nothing to curtail development that is harming the Illinois and little to improve agricultural practices along the river.
Edmondson's lawsuit appears to be less about environment and more about money - potentially millions of dollars for attorneys he's hired, including his friend Mike Turpen, to handle the suit.
Source: muskogeephoenix.com
17 October 2005
1 minute read
