US Supreme Court schedule includes Oklahoma-Arkansas dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Oklahoma-Arkansas dispute involving the water quality of the Illinois River is scheduled for consideration by the US Supreme Court.<br/><br/>Court spokesman Edward Turner says the

Saturday, February 18th 2006, 9:50 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Oklahoma-Arkansas dispute involving the water quality of the Illinois River is scheduled for consideration by the US Supreme Court.

Court spokesman Edward Turner says the disagreement was among issues scheduled for private court discussion Friday. He says if the court didn't discuss the matter then, it could take it up at the next conference February 24th.

The court also could say Tuesday whether it had discussed the dispute or made any decisions about it.

Oklahoma filed a federal lawsuit in Tulsa last June, alleging that Arkansas poultry companies were legally responsible for pollution of the Illinois River watershed. Oklahoma says state and federal laws are being violated by improper poultry waste disposal practices.

Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe then asked the nation's highest court for permission to sue Oklahoma, arguing the two states should settle the matter under the Arkansas River Basin Compact