Poultry negotiators prepare for third day of talks

Wednesday, June 8th 2005, 5:02 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson met for a second day Wednesday with several Arkansas poultry companies in mediated discussions aimed at resolving a conflict over poultry waste in eastern Oklahoma waters.

A news release approved by those involved in the talks gave no immediate indication of resolution.

"The parties have continued their frank discussions and will resume their meeting tomorrow," it read.

Edmondson met with Aviagen, Inc., Cargill Turkey Products, LLC., Cobb-Vantress, Inc., Georges, Inc., Peterson Farms, Inc., Simmons Foods, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and Willowbrook Farms, Inc. Representatives from OK Foods were not present Wednesday. Edmondson spokesman Charlie Price said he didn't know why.

Retired U.S. District Judge Thomas Brett is mediating the meetings, which have been closed to the public.

After three years of negotiations, Edmondson has threatened to sue the poultry industry over the use of poultry litter in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas watersheds.

He has alleged that Oklahoma lakes and streams and the drinking water they provide are deteriorating because of runoff from phosphorous-rich chicken litter applied to the land as fertilizer.

Key issues in the negotiations include setting standards for the amount of poultry litter that can be used on the land and the timetable for implementing such standards in Oklahoma's watersheds.