On November 1, 2013, the United
States District Court for the District of New Mexico dismissed
a lawsuit brought by the Humane Society of the United States seeking to prevent
horse slaughter inspections. HSUS alleged that the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) failed to conduct proper environmental studies when it
issued grants of inspection for federal meat inspection services to Valley Meat
Co., Rains Natural Meat, and Responsible Transportation. The court stated that the Food Safety
Inspection Service (FSIS) Directive
6130.1 and drug
residue program did not require the agency to prepare an environmental
impact statement, an environmental assessment, or a categorical exclusion under
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act). The court further concluded that the
issuing of a grant of inspection is a mandatory act not subject to NEPA review.
HSUS filed an immediate appeal
with the Tenth Circuit. The Tenth Circuit issued an emergency injunction to
prevent the USDA from performing inspections and halted the slaughter
facilities from operating once more.
For more information, please see
the full opinion
issued by Judge Christina Armijo in the District Court of New Mexico.
Written by Sarah L. Doyle - Research Assistant
The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center
@PSUAgLawCenter
November 11, 2013
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