October 31, 2007--Oklahoma may appeal ruling allowing water lawsuit to go forward (Denver Post)
U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton said the state's reasons for seeking dismissal of the lawsuit by the Tarrant Regional Water District are "unpersuasive." Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said the state can either appeal Heaton's ruling or prepare for trial. "My hunch is that we'll appeal," Edmondson said. Jim Oliver, general manager of the Texas water district, praised the ruling. "This case is about discriminatory restrictions on trade and unwillingness on the part of the state of Oklahoma to even talk about the possible sale or transfer of water across state lines. This is clearly a violation of the Interstate Commerce Clause," Oliver said. The state of Oklahoma may appeal a federal judge's ruling that allows a Texas group's lawsuit to obtain 150 billion gallons of water per year from Oklahoma streams to proceed.
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