Oklahoma settles 20-year poultry-litter lawsuit for $44m

Regulation
โดย Just Food·Read original
Summary · why it matters

Oklahoma has resolved its decades-long legal battle against six poultry companies over alleged pollution of the Illinois River Watershed. The settlement covers Tyson Foods, Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods, who will collectively pay about $44m. Of that, $41.6m will go toward an environmental relief fund, $1.9m will create an independent compliance auditor, and $420,000 in penalties will be paid into the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Revolving Fund. The companies also agreed to progressively cut the share of poultry litter applied within the watershed over seven years, starting with a 40% limit in the first two years, dropping to 30% in years three and four, and then to 20% from year five through seven. Additionally, they must pay for or finance half the cost of installing vegetative buffers on eligible poultry farms along Lake Tenkiller and the watershed's Scenic Rivers to filter runoff. The case was first brought in 2005 by then-attorney general Drew Edmondson, and a federal court ruled in the state's favor in January 2023.

Impact on stocks 2

Consumer Staples▼ · 2 stocks
Cal-Maine Foods Inc
CALM
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Cal-Maine is a named defendant in the settlement, paying part of $44m and agreeing to reduce poultry litter application.

Tyson Foods Inc
TSN
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Tyson Foods is a named defendant in the settlement, paying part of $44m and agreeing to reduce poultry litter application.

Off-coverage companies 4

Simmons FoodsPrivate▼ Negative
Regulationrelevance

Settlement requires $44m payment and progressive cuts to poultry litter application, increasing costs and regulatory burden.

Cargill, IncorporatedPrivate▼ Negative
Regulationrelevance

Cargill is a named defendant in the settlement, paying part of $44m and agreeing to reduce poultry litter application.

George's IncPrivate▼ Negative
Regulationrelevance

George's Inc is a named defendant in the settlement, paying part of $44m and agreeing to reduce poultry litter application.

Peterson FarmsPrivate▼ Negative
Regulationrelevance

Peterson Farms is a named defendant in the settlement, paying part of $44m and agreeing to reduce poultry litter application.

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