FLASH-URGENT
Tulsa Federal District Judge Gregory Frizzell has ruled in favor of Oklahoma in the latest round of the state's poultry lawsuit. Information given STIR shows Judge Frizzell ruled there has been no material change in the water quality of the Illinois River. The decision is expected to pave the way for an appeal by the Arkansas poultry companies named in the suit filed originally by former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Save the Illinois River, Inc. President Denise Deason-Toyne on Judge Gregory Frizzell's ruling June 18 on Oklahoma's poultry pollution lawsuit. Please see previous messages for details of the judge's ruling.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ruling of Judge Frizzell does not come as a surprise to anyone who has actually been on and observed the Illinois River over the past 15 years. There has been no significant improvement in the water quality. STIR is pleased that Judge Frizzell recognized the expert testimony on the continued deteriorated water quality condition of the Illinois river and Tenkiller Lake. This seems, however, a hollow victory. It is quite unlikely that the poultry industry will come to the table to enter good faith negotiations to work to remediate the damage it has caused and continues to cause. Most likely, we will see more appeals and substantial amounts of time and money spent in litigation instead of doing what is right and working together to solve the problem and develop means to prevent creating harm in the future. Citizens of both Oklahoma and Arkansas will continue to suffer due to the greed of the poultry industry.
Click HERE to read full PDF document.
