Animal Waste Legislation

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says a Claremore senator who voted for a bill declaring that animal waste isn't hazardous has a conflict of interest. <br/><br/>Edmondson

Sunday, February 25th 2007, 2:07 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says a Claremore senator who voted for a bill declaring that animal waste isn't hazardous has a conflict of interest.

Edmondson says state Senator Sean Burrage is a member of Taylor and Burrage, a Claremore law firm that has in the past and presently represents Tyson Foods.

Tyson is one of 13 poultry companies that Edmondson has sued, alleging excess chicken litter spread as fertilizer is polluting eastern Oklahoma watersheds.

Edmondson says the freshman senator should have revealed that conflict and declined to vote.

The Senate Rules Committee voted 7-to-1 for Senate Bill 709. The measure now goes to the full Senate.

Burrage says he's never made a personal appearance on behalf of Tyson, but his firm has represented the company in a case that is now closed.

He says the measure will have no impact on Edmondson's current lawsuit.