Post by Admin on Mar 23, 2007 0:27:19 GMT -5
Cavel: 'Under the Gun'
National Humane Society to sue Cavel for alleged violations
Published on: Thursday, March 22, 2007
Article by: Rebecca Freitag
City Reporter
• rfreitag@northernstar.info
Horse slaughter facts
A federal court of appeals recently upheld a Texas law banning the sale of horse meat for human consumption, which makes Illinois the only state in the country with an active plant still killing horses for human consumption.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 100,000 American horses were slaughtered in the three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter and 4,087 horses were imported to the U.S. for the purpose of slaughter.
Opponents of the slaughter ban argue the practice constitutes a humane way to kill old animals, but investigations by the HSUS show cruelty and abuse throughout the process. USDA statistics show that more than 92 percent of horses slaughtered in the U.S. are not old and infirm but in good condition.
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503/S. 311, is pending in Congress to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide. Recent violations
According to state records, Cavel has repeatedly exceeded its allowable "biochemical oxygen demand," or BOD, levels in its wastewater discharge. BOD is a test used to measure the concentration of biodegradable organic matter present in a sample of water.
According to news accounts, Cavel has been fined several times for violating the terms of its permit because of high BOD levels, and the level of fines has been increasing. It was fined $500 in 2004, $5,500 in 2005 and $25,500 for violations in January through September 2006.
DeKALB | A statement was released Tuesday by the Humane Society of the United States, filing a 60-day notice of intent to sue Cavel International horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb for repeatedly violating the federal Clean Water Act.
The Clean Water Act issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a notice of intent to sue to be filed 60 days in advance.
"We have records back from July 2004 to January 2007 from the DeKalb Sanitary District, showing 145 documented violations," said Rebecca Judd, staff attorney for HSUS. "We would certainly like the opportunity to meet with local and Cavel officials to see what is being done."
During the 60-day period, HSUS is also available to discuss possible options for Cavel to come into compliance with the sanitary district.
Cavel is the only slaughterhouse in the U.S. that slaughters American horses for human consumption. The notice was filed in response to numerous complaints by area residents, as well as records provided by the DeKalb Sanitary District.
The notice alleges that Cavel has violated the terms of its wastewater discharge permit multiple times during the last two years. According to the report, "The violations include the documented release of excessive 'animal residue' into the local sewer system. The plant slaughters more than 500 horses a week and discharges approximately 13,000 gallons of wastewater per day during operations."
Mike Zima, manager of the DeKalb Sanitary District, said there are no federal limitations or standards regarding the amount of pharmaceuticals in the horses.
"The violations are other specific things, not horse chemicals," Zima said.
Last week, an employee at the plant admitted a holding tank was "oozing frozen chunks of waste." After the incident, the sanitary district ordered Cavel to fix the wastewater problems or face closure on May 31. The plant has been deemed in "significant noncompliance" for its wastewater discharge violations.
Jim Tucker, general manager of Cavel International, said, "Generally, we're under the gun from the sanitation district and we've been working on possible solutions to the problems."
There are four things that are measured in their discharge permit: pH, ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids. Cavel hasn't been within acceptable ammonia or BOD levels past and present. Zima said the sanitary district requires that Cavel be in compliance by March 31 with their permit, or the sanitation board will review their discharge permit.
National Humane Society to sue Cavel for alleged violations
Published on: Thursday, March 22, 2007
Article by: Rebecca Freitag
City Reporter
• rfreitag@northernstar.info
Horse slaughter facts
A federal court of appeals recently upheld a Texas law banning the sale of horse meat for human consumption, which makes Illinois the only state in the country with an active plant still killing horses for human consumption.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 100,000 American horses were slaughtered in the three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter and 4,087 horses were imported to the U.S. for the purpose of slaughter.
Opponents of the slaughter ban argue the practice constitutes a humane way to kill old animals, but investigations by the HSUS show cruelty and abuse throughout the process. USDA statistics show that more than 92 percent of horses slaughtered in the U.S. are not old and infirm but in good condition.
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503/S. 311, is pending in Congress to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide. Recent violations
According to state records, Cavel has repeatedly exceeded its allowable "biochemical oxygen demand," or BOD, levels in its wastewater discharge. BOD is a test used to measure the concentration of biodegradable organic matter present in a sample of water.
According to news accounts, Cavel has been fined several times for violating the terms of its permit because of high BOD levels, and the level of fines has been increasing. It was fined $500 in 2004, $5,500 in 2005 and $25,500 for violations in January through September 2006.
DeKALB | A statement was released Tuesday by the Humane Society of the United States, filing a 60-day notice of intent to sue Cavel International horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb for repeatedly violating the federal Clean Water Act.
The Clean Water Act issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a notice of intent to sue to be filed 60 days in advance.
"We have records back from July 2004 to January 2007 from the DeKalb Sanitary District, showing 145 documented violations," said Rebecca Judd, staff attorney for HSUS. "We would certainly like the opportunity to meet with local and Cavel officials to see what is being done."
During the 60-day period, HSUS is also available to discuss possible options for Cavel to come into compliance with the sanitary district.
Cavel is the only slaughterhouse in the U.S. that slaughters American horses for human consumption. The notice was filed in response to numerous complaints by area residents, as well as records provided by the DeKalb Sanitary District.
The notice alleges that Cavel has violated the terms of its wastewater discharge permit multiple times during the last two years. According to the report, "The violations include the documented release of excessive 'animal residue' into the local sewer system. The plant slaughters more than 500 horses a week and discharges approximately 13,000 gallons of wastewater per day during operations."
Mike Zima, manager of the DeKalb Sanitary District, said there are no federal limitations or standards regarding the amount of pharmaceuticals in the horses.
"The violations are other specific things, not horse chemicals," Zima said.
Last week, an employee at the plant admitted a holding tank was "oozing frozen chunks of waste." After the incident, the sanitary district ordered Cavel to fix the wastewater problems or face closure on May 31. The plant has been deemed in "significant noncompliance" for its wastewater discharge violations.
Jim Tucker, general manager of Cavel International, said, "Generally, we're under the gun from the sanitation district and we've been working on possible solutions to the problems."
There are four things that are measured in their discharge permit: pH, ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids. Cavel hasn't been within acceptable ammonia or BOD levels past and present. Zima said the sanitary district requires that Cavel be in compliance by March 31 with their permit, or the sanitation board will review their discharge permit.
