OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, issued the following statement after a federal judge declined to approve proposed settlement agreements in the long-running Illinois River Watershed poultry litigation: 

"The Attorney General and his team worked to bring forward settlement agreements that would have provided a clearer path forward in this case. Those agreements reflected months of negotiation and an effort to bring stability to a situation that has remained unresolved for far too long. 

With the court declining to move those agreements forward, the uncertainty surrounding this case continues, and it's being felt most by the families who rely on poultry production to make a living. 

In eastern Oklahoma, poultry growers are family operations that have made significant investments and taken on real financial risk. Without long-term certainty, many of them are now facing difficult decisions about whether they can continue operating.  

At this point, I believe it is appropriate to reevaluate the direction of this case. I am urging the Attorney General to consider withdrawing the lawsuit so we can prevent further economic strain on rural communities and avoid pushing more families to the brink." 

The Illinois River Watershed litigation, originally filed in 2005, remains ongoing as the court considers next steps following its decision on the proposed agreements.

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Rep. David Hardin, a Republican, represents House District 86 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Adair County and portions of Cherokee, Mayes and Delaware counties.