Judge asks Oklahoma for full tests from chicken farms

by: JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS Associated Press Writer Wednesday, December 09, 2009 12/9/2009 2:32:56 PM; posted www.tulsaworld.com. Oklahoma's pollution case against the Arkansas poultry industry suffered another setback Wednesday, when a judge blocked the state from introducing soil test records that reportedly showed high phosphorus levels at 50 chicken farms. Citing fairness, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell instead ordered Oklahoma to hand over the complete soil test records for the operations going back to 1998, when the record-keeping began. "I want to see the history," Frizzell said, siding with poultry company attorneys who accused the state of "cherry-picking" tests showing higher pollution levels. "That's why I want to see all the records, because they may cut either way here."