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f) Animal Welfare Institute

Rad 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003

Received In USDA/FSIS
June 5, 2017
Freedom of Information Act Officer . JUN 0 5 2017 H ‘
USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service
Room 2168 South Building FOIA Office
1400 Independence Ave., SW Beas

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Washington, DC 20250

Via email: fsis.foia@fsis.usda.gov

FOIA Request: Humane Methods of Slaughter Act Non-compliance Records
Dear FOIA Officer:

This is a request for public records made on behalf of the Animal Welfare Institute (A W1), pursuant
to the Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552 et seq. This request satisfies
the written request requirement pursuant to 7 C.F.R. § 1.5(a).

We request that you please provide the following documents related to Humane Methods of
Slaughter:

All Noncompliance Records, Memorandums of Interview, and supporting records for
noncompliance with humane handling and slaughter regulations under 9 CFR 313 and the
Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (ISP Code 04C02) issued by FSIS to Vermont
Packinghouse LLC (Est. M45029) during the months of March, April, and May 2017.

Please provide the records in the format that will ensure the most immediate response—
electronically, hardcopy, or CD-ROM. Additionally, please provide the records as they become
available.

In the event that you deny access to any of the requested records, please provide me with all
reasonably segregable, non-exempt portions of the relevant records. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).
Additionally, please describe the deleted material in detail, specify the statutory basis for the
denial, and explain the basis for your belief that the material is exempt. I further request that you
separately state your reasons for not invoking your discretionary powers to release the requested
documents in the public interest. Finally, please notify me of any appeal procedures available
under the law, as well as the office and address where such an appeal can be sent.



Fee Waiver

AWLis a nonprofit organization promoting the humane treatment of animals, including animals in
agriculture. The information subject to this request will be used to educate concerned individuals
about animal welfare in slaughter establishments. The information the records contain would
contribute significantly to the public understanding of humane and public health issues at major
U.S. slaughter facilities as well as the evidence relied upon by the agency in reaching decisions
regarding the treatment of farm animals.

Additionally, the records covered by this request are not publically posted or otherwise published,
and AWI has no intention to use the information disclosed under this request for financial gain. If,
however, the waiver is denied and the request will involve more than two search hours or more
than 100 pages of documents, and fees will exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00), please notify me
immediately by telephone before the request is processed so that we can decide whether to pay the
additional fees or to appeal the denial of the request for waiver.

If you_have any questions regarding this request, you may contact me at (b) (6) | or
fo) records and any related correspondence should be sent to my attention

at the address above.

Sincerely,

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Dena Jones
Direvtor, Farin Animal Program
Animal Welfare Institute

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