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Attorney
General claims poultry litter likely caused E. coli outbreak
Source of Article: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20090213_298_0_OKLAHO567947
By World Capitol Bureau
Published: 2/13/2009 1:13
PM
Last
Modified: 2/13/2009 1:41 PM
OKLAHOMA
CITY -- Poultry litter was likely the cause of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in
August at Country Cottage in Locust Grove, said Oklahoma Attorney General
Drew Edmondson on Friday.
The outbreak left Chad Ingle of Pryor dead and 300 ill.
Edmondson said that based on an investigation by his environmental protection
unit, it appears that poultry litter spread as fertilizer made its way into
the well the restaurant had been using.
Edmondson said it is "highly likely" the well was the source of the
contamination. But he said he is not prepared to say that is the case
"beyond a reasonable doubt."
He said human or other animal contamination in the well had been ruled out.
He said poultry houses engaged in land application of waste were within a
quarter of a mile from the well.
He said he had no idea if the conclusions of his office would have any
bearing on his suit against several poultry companies.
Edmondson has alleged the spreading of poultry litter has polluted the Illinois River watershed.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality on Wednesday and Thursday
will be in Locust Grove to conduct free inspections and water sampling on
private wells. The agency will test
for bacteria in private wells within a five-mile radius of
Locust Grove.
Residents with private wells who are interested in testing can call a 24-hour
hotline by the close of business on Monday. The number is (800) 522-0206.
Up to 7,000 tons of poultry litter is generated annually within that area,
said Dan Lennington, a
attorney with Edmondson's Environmental Protection Unit.
For more on this story, read Saturday's Tulsa World.
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