In addition to the Golden Litter Award, Silver Squat Awards will go to Oklahoma television stations for non-coverage of Oklahomas poultry lawsuit and poultry waste pollution of the Illinois River watershed. A newspaper and a public utility also are receiving Silver Squat Awards.
With only a few exceptions, TV stations did dismal diddly squat in coverage of Oklahomas clean water lawsuit and poultry waste pollution of the Illinois River and Tenkiller Lake, said OCWF editors. Because they did squat while raking in millions of poultry industry advertising dollars, they deserve squat.
The Pryor Daily Times [owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., the Joplin Globe's parent company] is recognized for giving more words of print support and comfort to the Arkansas poultry industry than even Arkansas newspapers.
The Tahlequah Public Works Authority, a public trust separate from Tahlequah, Oklahomas city government, gets a Silver Squat Award for creative disregard for best management practices in use of sewage sludge.
TPWA spreads bacteria-laden, phosphorus-rich, composted sewage sludge on the land within the watershed despite the advice of state officials and the authoritys own attorney, OCWF editors said.
Tyson Foods receives OCWFs top award for its court motion alleging the State of Oklahoma has no authority to protect the Illinois River because the Cherokee Nation owns the water.
Trying to cloud the merits of Oklahomas lawsuit by raising the specter of tribal sovereignty is very clever on Tysons part but its despicable, said OCWF editors. If Tyson thinks ownership of the water is a legitimate issue, they would have raised it years ago. Instead, they bring it in as an act of last minute desperation.
The lawsuit, which could have far ranging impact on large animal feeding operations in the U.S., is scheduled to be heard in 2009. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson filed the suit after several years of unsuccessful negotiations with poultry companies operating in the Illinois River watershed. Poultry litter, a mixture of bird waste and bedding material such as straw or rice hulls, is spread on fields. Phosphorus, chemicals, and bacteria in the waste contaminate surface and ground waters causing growth of algae and putting the publics health at risk.
Still in design, the Golden Litter and Silver Squat Awards are made of compressed chicken litter with an appliqu of pure gold colored paint. Odorless and light weight, the statues of a broiler hen are the likeness of a Tyson lawyer dreaming up new legal motions. The award is biodegradable in fitting with the poultry industrys contention that chicken waste, in almost any amount, is a good thing.
Comments provided by Ed Brocksmith, chairman of Save the Illinois River, Inc.
Comments