First district congressman John Sullivan calls for settlement on poultry waste issue

Thursday, November 17th 2005, 6:30 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma congressman says the poultry industry and the state should return to the negotiating table to work out a solution to Oklahoma's water quality problems.

Congressman John Sullivan of Tulsa spoke before a US House subcommittee in Washington Wednesday. The subcommittee is studying Superfund Laws and animal agriculture, including poultry waste.

Sullivan says few can state that excess poultry waste isn't having a negative effect on Oklahoma's scenic waterways. But he says political pressures have muddied the waters on the issue.

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has filed a lawsuit against poultry companies over pollution of the Illinois River watershed in northeastern Oklahoma. He alleges poultry litter is to blame.