Tyson Foods is threatening to end its poultry-raising contracts in eastern Oklahoma if State Attorney General Gentner Drummond doesn’t ease up on his efforts to force a cleanup of poultry pollution of the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller.
The company issued a statement recently in response to Drummond’s contention the companies responsible for the pollution should pay millions of dollars in fines. He singled out Tyson since it is one of the largest firms involved in the decades-old lawsuit filed by the state.
“Even as they claim to be concerned about this litigation, Tyson is actively working to acquire additional processing capacity in the watershed,” Drummond said in the statement. “Oklahomans deserve better than corporate intimidation tactics from a company that has repeatedly shown it prioritizes profits over people and environmental responsibility.”
KOSU reported Tyson issued a statement in response.
“But unless these leaders can persuade Attorney General Drummond to put the needs of all Oklahomans above the enrichment of out-of-state trial lawyers, Tyson has no choice but to reduce its business in the region,” according to the statement.
The company also said it will honor existing poultry grower contracts but can’t offer new contracts in the Illinois River Watershed, unless the state offers a more favorable solution.
Click here for KOSU Public Radio