Attorney General Drew Edmondson criticizes legislative bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson says a bill defining animal waste as non-hazardous could be the worse bill being considered this session.<br/><br/>He says the bill is an attempt by

Thursday, February 16th 2006, 8:50 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Attorney General Drew Edmondson says a bill defining animal waste as non-hazardous could be the worse bill being considered this session.

He says the bill is an attempt by the poultry industry to sidetrack his efforts to protect Oklahoma waters.

The state Senate Energy and Environment Committee passed the bill Thursday written by Republican Senator Harry Coates.

Edmondson says if the bill were to become law and Avian flu struck Oklahoma, the bodies of the infected dead birds couldn't be considered hazardous.

Edmondson has filed a federal lawsuit against a group of Arkansas poultry firms, accusing them of polluting streams in northeastern Oklahoma through improper waste disposal practices.