USDA 

zZ7j 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Denver District Office 

1 Denver Federal 

Center, Bldg. 45 

P.O. Box 25387 

Denver, CO 80225 

Voice (303) 236-9800 

Fax(303)236-9794 

August 8, 2022 

SENT VIA FED EX & 

ELECTRONIC MAIL 

Todd Elsbeny, Owner 

Chris Miller, Plant Manager 

Alaska Meat Packers Inc., 

Establishment 20891 M/PN 

385 E. Outer Springer Loop 

Palmer, AK 99645 

- ')alaskameatpackers.com 

RESUMPTION OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES 

Dear Mr. Elsbeny, 

This letter serves as official notification and confmns the verbal notification of 

resumption ofvoluntaiy inspection se1vice at your establishment, Alaska Meat 

Packers Inc., Est. M/PN 20891, located in Palmer, Alaska. 

On June 3, 2022, the Food Safety and Inspection Se1vice (FSIS) issued you official 

notification of the denial ofvolunta1y inspection se1vice due to an inhumane handling 

noncompliance, whereby your establishment employee needed multiple stunning 

attempts to render a yak unconscious. 

Several coITespondences were received via email between June 13, 2022, and 

August 8, 2022. Your responses included info1mation on training, installation of a 

head catch, info1mation regarding the ammunition being used as well as proffering 

that you will not slaughter any yak bulls over the age of 10 yeai·s. 

After reviewing the responses, FSIS has dete1mined that your written assurances 

have adequately addressed the concerns outlined in the denial ofvolunta1y se1vice 

and will allow the resumption ofinspection ofvoluntaiy species. You were notified 

via telephone on August 8, 2022. 

As an establishment receiving voluntary inspection, you are expected to comply 

with the Agricultural Mark.eting Act (AMA) and all regulations promulgated there 

under. The regulations require an establishment to take appropriate action(s) when 

either management ofthe establishment or FSIS dete1mines that the plant's 

procedures for handling and slaughtering animals in a humane manner may not be 

effective. 
Alaska Meat Packers, Est. MIPIV20891 Resumption ofVoluntary Service 

Failure to comply with the regulato1y requirements may result in our initiating further 

enforcement action, which could include a recommendation to deny inspection se1vices, or other 

approp1iate ad1ninistrative or legal action. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has 

responsibility to initiate action ifyour establishment fails to operate in accordance with the 

regulat01y requirements. 

At a later date, FSIS will provide you a copy ofthe Verification Plan and go over it with you. 

The FSIS Verification Plan is designed to ensure that your establishment fully implements the 

conective actions stated in your responses received, and that these revisions and actions are 

effective in assuring regulato1y compliance. 

If you have any questions regarding this matter, you may contact the Denver District Office at 

(303) 236-9800. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by JENIFER JENIFER MONTEVERDE 

MONTEVERDE ~~~~022.08.08 1s:18:s2 

for 

Dr. Robert Reeder 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Denver District Office 

Robert.Reeder@usda.gov 

cc: FO/QER 

Est. File 

D. James, DDM 

J. Monteverde, DDM 

J. Van Hook DDM 

, FLS 

,SPHV 

CSI 

, DVMS 

A. Neidig, DCS 

S. Baucher, RD/OIEA 

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