Federal Judge Orders State To Turn Over Water Test Data

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The state must turn over results of environmental tests in the Illinois River watershed to the poultry industry, a judge ruled Friday.<br/><br/>Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson

Friday, January 5th 2007, 4:40 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The state must turn over results of environmental tests in the Illinois River watershed to the poultry industry, a judge ruled Friday.

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing 14 Arkansas-based poultry companies, accusing them of polluting the Illinois watershed with chicken litter, and expects to go to trial in 2008.

In his ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Joyner wrote that the poultry industry is entitled to seek 20 years worth of data on phosphorous and nitrogen loading in Lake Tenkiller and the watershed from chicken litter.

"The government cannot just go around claiming that you've done something wrong and then refuse to tell you what," said poultry industry spokeswoman Janet Wilkerson in a statement. "We are glad the Court agreed that the results of environmental tests are not protected 'secrets' and that the state is required to provide this information for us."

Charlie Price, a spokesman for Edmondson, said the data referenced in Joyner's ruling "appears to be the same information we've already agreed to provide."

State and environmental officials contend that years of illegal spreading of the waste, which contains bacteria, antibiotics, growth hormones and harmful metals, is killing Oklahoma's scenic lakes.