Poultry Farmers Face Search Warrant For Foil Tests
OKLAHOMA - few search warrants were issued to farmers in eastern Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on Tuesday to allow a private company and state officials to take extensive soil tests on their property.The tests are being performed solely to help fuel a lawsuit Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson filed against eight poultry companies, some farmers said. Edmondson claims the poultry companies have polluted the Illinois River watershed and should bear the cost to clean it up.
"Farmers in the state of Oklahoma have the same constitutional right that every other citizen does and it's a shame that its not being recognized by some politicians and lawmakers," said Bev Saunders, a spokeswoman for Poultry Partners Inc. and a farmer.
Poultry Partners is a nonprofit group formed by farmers in Arkansas and Oklahoma to provide a more consolidated approach to issues such as Edmondson's lawsuit.
Source: nwaonline.net
21 October 2005
1 minute read
