USDA

... 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Des Moines 

District Office 

Neal Smith 

Federal Building 

210 Walnut Street 

Room 985 

Des Moines, IA 

50309-2123 

Voice 

515.727.8960 

Fax 515.727.8991 

January 23, 2024 

Electronically delivered on January 23, 2024 

Keaton Walker, Owner 

Responsible Transpo1iation, LLC, Est. M45099 

22034 200th Street 

Sigourney, IA 52591 

keaton@responsible-transportation.com 

641-622-3220 

LETTER OF DEFERRAL 

Attention: Mr. Walker 

This letter serves as official notification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service 

(FSIS), Des Moines District Office, of our decision to defer finther action regai·ding 

the Notice of Intended Enforcement (NOIE) initiated on January 16, 2024, at, 

Responsible Transpo1iation, LLC, Establishment M45099, located at 22034 200th 

Street Si oume Iowa 52591 . This letter follows verbal notification, provided by 

, District Veterina1y Medical Specialist, Mr. Keaton Walker, 

Owner, at approximately 1355 hours on January 23, 2024. 

On January 17, 18, 19, 22, and 23, 2024 you provided this office, via emails, written 

conective actions and preventative measures, in response to the regulato1y 

noncompliance detailed in the NOIE. The response outlined actions adequate to 

address the noncompliance regai·ding humane handling of livestock requirements, 

including a plan to maintain compliance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act 

(FMIA) Title 21 of the United States Code (21 U.S.C. 603), the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq). and federal regulations {Title 

9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) Pa.ii 313} . The following documents 

were included, detailing action immediately implemented and finiher proposed at 

your establishment: 

Specifical~y: 

• NOIE Response letter, dated Janua1y 17, 2024 (11 pages) 

• Animal Welfare Training Program SOP (6 pages) 

o Training logs for Animal Welfai·e (7 pages) 

• Euthanasia ofNon-ambulato1y Cattle SOP (4 pages) 

o Training logs for Non-ambulato1y Cattle ( 4 pages) 

• Euthanasia Record & Denature Program ofCondemned & Dead Cattle 

(2 pages) 

Page 1 of2 
• • 

Keaton Walker, Owner Letter of Defe1rnl 

Responsible Transportation, LLC, Est. M45099 Janua1y 23, 2024 

• Use of Pithing Rods in Euthanasia of Cattle SOP (2 pages) 

o Training log 1 of 2 for Pithing rod (2 pages) 

• Fire Alm Training SOP (5 pages) 

o Training logs for Fireaim (5 pages) 

• Receiving Report for Allimals (1 page) 

• Humane Killing of Livestock Using Fireanns (20 pages) 

• Iowa Code 2024, Section 724.9 Fireaim Safety Training (1 page) 

• 22 Caliber Rifle Maintenance Report (2 pages) 

Based on your written response, you were info1med verbally, that the suspension of the 

assignment ofIPP, for slaughter operations, at your establishment is placed in defenal effective 

Januaiy 23, 2024. 

The defe1rnl period will remain pending verification by FSIS personnel that your proposed 

con ective actions and preventive measures have been effectively implemented and ai·e adequate 

to maintain compliance. Establishment personnel should monitor operations to prevent violations 

of humane handling and slaughter from occuning in the future. It is also important for you to 

understand the responsibility of FSIS to initiate action when there is a failure to operate in 

accordance with 9 CFR Paii 313 of the regulations. 

During the defenal period verification activities will be conducted by IPP and results will be 

repo1ied to the Des Moines District Office on a weekly basis. The decision to place the NOIE in 

deferral is based on the proffered actions. Ally modifications to your subinitted con ective actions 

and preventive measures made during the deferral period need to be subinitted, in writing, to the 

Des Moines District Office for review prior to implementation by your establishment. 

Please be advised that, as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to comply with 

FSIS regulations and to take appropriate corrective action to prevent inhumane handling of 

livestock at your establishment. Your failure to comply with these requirements or to implement 

the measures in your action plan could result in reinstatement of the suspension of inspection at 

your establishment or other appropriate adininistrative or legal action. 

If you have questions regai·ding this matter, please feel free to contact the Des Moines District 

Office at 515-727-8960 or District Veterina1y Medical Specialist 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by MARK MARK JOHNSON 

Date: 2024.01.23 JOHNSON 14:30:20 ·06'00' (for) 

Mr. Jeffe1y Jacobsen 

District Manager 

USDA FSIS OFO 

Des Moines District Office 

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