Rep. David Hardin Backs Proposed Illinois River Watershed Settlement
- mike33692
- 3 hours ago
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Rep. David Hardin Backs Proposed Illinois River Watershed Settlement
State Rep. David Hardin says a proposed Illinois River Watershed settlement could bring an end to one of Oklahoma's longest-running environmental lawsuits while providing greater certainty for families and businesses in eastern Oklahoma.
The Stilwell Republican issued a statement after Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced a proposed agreement with six poultry companies involved in the decades-long litigation. While Hardin welcomed the development, he stressed that the agreement is not yet final and must still be approved by the federal courts before the lawsuit can officially be resolved.
Illinois River Watershed Settlement Still Faces Court Review
The proposed Illinois River Watershed settlement must still be approved by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the federal district court before the existing judgment can be vacated and the lawsuit dismissed.
"It is important to be clear that this is an agreement between the Attorney General, acting on behalf of the state, and the defendant poultry integrators," Hardin said. "It is not yet a court-approved resolution."
As reported by the Oklahoma Farm Report, Hardin said he is encouraged by what he called a more balanced approach that addresses environmental concerns while recognizing the importance of poultry production to eastern Oklahoma.
The proposed agreement was announced this week by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, which outlined the settlement reached with the poultry companies. Details of the agreement were released by the Attorney General's Office at https://www.oag.ok.gov.
Six Poultry Companies Included In Agreement
The proposed settlement involves Tyson Foods, Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine Foods and Simmons Foods, all of which have been defendants in the Illinois River Watershed litigation.
According to the Attorney General's Office, the agreement includes funding for watershed restoration projects, environmental monitoring and additional measures related to poultry litter management. It also establishes requirements intended to improve environmental stewardship while providing long-term certainty for the poultry industry if the agreement is approved by the courts.
Hardin said there are still important legal steps ahead but expressed hope the agreement will move the case toward a responsible conclusion after more than two decades of litigation.
Lawsuit Has Spanned More Than 20 Years
The Illinois River Watershed case has remained one of Oklahoma's most closely watched environmental lawsuits since it was first filed more than 20 years ago.
Although the parties have now reached a proposed agreement, the litigation cannot officially end until the federal courts approve the settlement. If approved, the prior judgment would be vacated and the lawsuit dismissed.
Federal court records show the agreement must proceed through the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before returning to the federal district court for final action. Information about cases before the appellate court is available through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit at https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov.
Hardin said he hopes the agreement ultimately provides certainty for eastern Oklahoma families while protecting both the region's natural resources and one of its most important agricultural industries.
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