Judge’s Approval Still Pending
Despite the breakthrough, the case is not officially closed. A federal judge must approve the settlement between Tyson, Cargill and Oklahoma. If the court declines to sign off, the December ruling — with its 30-year monitoring mandate and funding requirements — would remain in force, sending the parties back into negotiations.
For now, there is cautious relief.
Holliday said it is reassuring that Tyson chose to settle rather than pursue a lengthy appeals process that could have stretched on for years. But she warned that without judicial approval, the agreement offers no certainty.
Like the river at the center of the dispute, the case has twisted and turned for years. Whether this settlement marks the final bend or merely a pause in the current now rests with the court.
