In a significant legal development, a federal court has delivered a verdict supporting Oklahoma's position in a long-running environmental case concerning contamination of the Illinois River Watershed by major poultry producers.
Court Mandates Corporate Responsibility
Judge Gregory Frizzell issued the ruling, which holds several poultry corporations financially accountable for cleaning up decades of accumulated waste in the watershed. The companies named in the order include Tyson Foods, Cargill, Simmons Foods, and Cal-Maine Foods, among others.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated that the firms retain the option to appeal the decision or engage in negotiations with the state regarding cleanup expenses. This legal victory aligns with Drummond's longstanding support for the lawsuit, which was initially filed by the state in 2005. The case has created a notable rift within Oklahoma's Republican leadership, as Governor Kevin Stitt has publicly sided with the poultry industry.
Judge Frizzell concluded that the corporations continue to pollute the watershed and bear responsibility for the environmental consequences. His order also mandates more responsible management of poultry waste and prohibits future pollution of state waterways.
Political Divide and Industry Concerns
The governor's office and the poultry companies did not provide immediate comments following the ruling. Governor Stitt has actively opposed the litigation, meeting with hundreds of poultry producers in Adair County on December 16 to discuss their concerns. Attendees expressed fears that the legal action could threaten their livelihoods.
“You have followed your permits,” Stitt told the farmers during the meeting, according to an official release. “You’re protecting the environment, and if anyone breaks the rules, we’ll enforce them — but we’re not going to go back 20 years and punish an entire industry that has done things right.”
The lawsuit alleges that poultry companies polluted the watershed by spreading chicken waste containing phosphorus on fields as fertilizer. While Drummond emphasizes his efforts to resolve the case, Stitt has criticized the attorney general, arguing that the lawsuit endangers Oklahoma's food supply due to associated costs and uncertainty.
“Having these producers and family farms is crucial to the Oklahoma way of life,” Stitt remarked in a December 14 social media post. “There is a solution to be had that protects Oklahoma farmers, domestic food supply and natural resources.”
Escalating Tensions and Settlement Efforts
In the past year, Drummond sought penalties exceeding $100 million against the companies. Conversely, in November, Stitt requested the judge to direct both parties to continue settlement negotiations.
A spokesperson for Drummond countered the governor's assertions, stating, “The issue at hand is resolving a 20-year-old lawsuit to enforce state laws that protect our water quality. We've simply been asking these companies to follow the law. Clean water and a thriving poultry industry can and should both exist for the benefit of every Oklahoman.”
Governor Stitt has consistently denounced the lawsuit as unfairly targeting Oklahoma farmers. In 2024, he signed legislation designed to shield the poultry industry from future legal liability in similar cases.
At the Adair County event, chicken farm owner Megan Langley shared her apprehensions with the governor. “When these companies get tired of fighting with the state of Oklahoma and decide it’s not worth it anymore, you’re not destroying a large corporation — you’re destroying a family like mine,” Langley said, as reported in the governor's office release.
The dispute between Stitt and Drummond intensified over the Thanksgiving period, with Drummond alleging in a December 2 letter that the governor is influenced by poultry industry donations. “These companies have poured money into your political campaigns, and now you are doing their bidding — seeking a sweetheart deal that puts their profits ahead of Oklahoma's people, our farmers and our land,” Drummond wrote.
Reports indicate Stitt received approximately $20,000 in campaign contributions from donors associated with poultry interests. On December 15, Senate Pro Tem Lonzie Paxton urged all parties to resume settlement discussions.
Conflicts between the governor and attorney general on legal matters are not unusual; Stitt and Drummond have previously clashed over issues including tribal rights and the misuse of federal education funds.
