Bill revives debate over animal waste

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill declaring that animal waste is not hazardous material passes the Oklahoma House.<br/><br/>The approval came despite opposition from Tulsa-area lawmakers who say their drinking

Thursday, April 20th 2006, 5:37 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill declaring that animal waste is not hazardous material passes the Oklahoma House.

The approval came despite opposition from Tulsa-area lawmakers who say their drinking water is threatened by pollution from poultry operations in Arkansas.

The bill now heads for an uncertain fate in the Oklahoma Senate.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson has labeled the legislation as an attempt to hamper his federal lawsuit against 14 Arkansas poultry companies he has accused of polluting streams and rivers in northeastern Oklahoma.

Representative Terry Hyman says Edmondson is trying to classify animal waste as hazardous material in his lawsuit, threatening to burden Oklahoma farmers and ranchers with costly new regulations.

The vote was 68-to-27 for the measure, with most rural lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, favoring the proposal.