Attorney General Drew Edmondson pursues lawsuit after mediation fails

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson says he'll pursue a lawsuit against Arkansas <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=poultry">poultry</a></b>

Friday, August 19th 2005, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson says he'll pursue a lawsuit against Arkansas poultry companies after mediation fails to resolve a long-standing dispute over waste in eastern Oklahoma waterways.

In a statement released Thursday, the poultry companies blamed the failure of mediation on Edmondson's demands, which they said would destroy the economic viability of the chicken farming industry in the state.

Janet Wilkerson -- a spokeswoman for the companies -- says the poultry companies voluntarily proposed a broad, long-term plan to provide poultry farmers options and other measures that could be implemented in all of the scenic river watersheds to eliminate any concerns and protect the state's economy.

Edmondson says there's a confidentiality agreement in place and he can't comment on the specifics of what led to the end of talks.