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Judge allowing poultry pollution case to continue, agrees pollution continues
- On June 17, 2025, Judge Gregory Frizzell ruled that phosphorus pollution from poultry waste continues to harm the Illinois River Watershed in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
- The ruling followed a nearly 20-year lawsuit filed in 2005 by Oklahoma against 11 poultry integrators alleging that overuse of poultry litter caused watershed pollution.
- Frizzell found that conditions have not materially changed since the 2010 trial, with elevated phosphorus causing increased algal growth that damages river aesthetics.
- The poultry industry produced about 446,045 tons of waste in Oklahoma's portion of the basin from 2015 to 2024, while Arkansas growers generated roughly 119,500 tons in 2023.
- Attorney General Gentner Drummond affirmed commitment to restrict pollution and clean the watershed, though settlement prospects remain uncertain amid expected further litigation delays.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Federal judge finds poultry waste is still polluting eastern Oklahoma waters • Oklahoma Voice
The Illinois River is seen from an overlook at Sparrow Hawk Wildlife Management Area in northeast Oklahoma. (Photo by GracedBytheLight/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.)OKLAHOMA CITY — Now with a critical court decision in hand, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he hopes to settle a 20-year-long lawsuit over pollution to the Illinois River Watershed. In a decision released this week, a Tulsa feder…
Judge allowing poultry pollution case to continue, agrees pollution continues
A Tulsa federal judge again sided with the states top prosecutor in a nearly 20-year court battle over pollution in the Illinois River watershed, allegedly caused by chicken slaughterhouses.The 2005 lawsuit was filed against poultry giants Tyson Foods, Cal-Maine, Cargill, Peterson Farms, and Simmons Foods, among others.WATCH: Judge allowing poultry pollution case to continue, agrees pollution continues Judge allowing poultry pollution case to co…
Federal Judge Declares Illinois River Watershed Still Suffers Poultry Waste Runoff
U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell issued a ruling this week saying that the state of Oklahoma has shown that conditions have not materially changed for the Illinois River Watershed following a trial against poultry producers. The 20 year-old lawsuit was originally filed by then Attorney General Drew Edmondson. The Oklahoman’s Murray Evans writes that current Attorney General Gentner Drummond is confident there can be an agreement reached. Friz
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