From the Tulsa World

AG: Poultry talks are back on track
By WORLD CAPITOL BUREAU
4/7/2005

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's announcement Wednesday came a day after House Bill 1879 by Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City, which would limit Edmondson's power to file lawsuits, was pulled from consideration in a Senate committee.

Edmondson said the bill's death had a lot to do with his decision to announce renewed efforts on settlement negotiations that stalled in January.

"At the very least, it was a diversion," he said. "We were having to spend time on that instead of the real business of getting this issue negotiated."

The bill's existence allowed poultry companies to refuse to negotiate because the measure ultimately could have limited the attorney general's ability to file a lawsuit without the permission of the governor or Legislature, Edmondson said.

"The companies are no longer in a wait-and-see posture, wondering if we'll even have the power to file a suit," he said.

Edmondson blames the poultry industry for polluting Oklahoma lakes and streams with excess phosphorus from chicken litter. Increased phosphorus causes odor, taste and algae problems in the water.

"We . . . have been anxious to continue the dialogue since January," said Janet Wilkerson, a spokeswoman for poultry firms involved in the talks.