USDA 

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

United States Department of Agriculture 

March 27, 2024 

University of Nevada, Reno Meat Plant 

dba Wolf Pack Meats 

Establishment 6004 M/P ELECTRONIC MAIL on March 27, 2024 

5895 Clean Water Way 

Reno, NV 89502 

tkulas@unr.edu 

(775) 857-3663 

Attention: Thomas Kulas, Plant Manager 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

On March 21, 2024, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Alameda District Office 

(ADO), verbally notified your establishment of our decision to withhold the federal marks of 

inspection and suspend the assignment of Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) for Slaughter 

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes at University of Nevada Reno, Reno 

Meat Plant dba Wolf Pack Meats, Est. 6004 M/P, located at 5895 Clean Water Way, Reno, NV 

89502. The ADO issued a Notice of Suspension letter to follow verbal notification of the 

suspension action, provided by Mr. Frank Gillis, Deputy District Manager (DDM), to you on 

March 21, 2024. 

The evidence of egregious inhumane handling demonstrates failure to comply with the Federal 

Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 603) and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act 

(HMSA) (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) and federal regulations 9 CFR Part 313. This action is based on 

the determination that your establishment failed to handle or slaughter animals humanely in 

accordance with Title 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). 

From March 21, 2024, through March 25, 2024, your establishment submitted written and verbal 

responses to the Alameda District Office (ADO) containing the immediate corrective actions and 

further preventive measures in response to the Notice of Suspension (NOS) issued to your 

establishment on March 21, 2024. 

Based on your written and verbal commitments provided from March 21, 2024, to March 25, 

2024, in response to the NOS, FSIS has decided to hold the Suspension in Abeyance to allow 

your establishment the opportunity to implement your proposed corrective actions and 

preventive measures. This letter confirms the verbal notification provided to your establishment 

on March 22, 2024, by the FSIS Alameda District Office management team. 

During this Abeyance period, FSIS will continue to verify, assess, and evaluate the effectiveness 

of the corrective actions you have implemented to assure that all proffered corrective actions are 

followed and that your programs are adequate to assure that livestock at your establishment are 

handled and slaughtered humanely, in accordance with the FMIA, the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 1 of 3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Kulas, Plant Manager Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

University of Nevada Reno, Reno Meat Plant March 27, 2024 

dba Wolf Pack Meats, Est. 6004 M/P 

FSIS designed a Verification Plan to verify that your establishment fully implements and follows 

the corrective actions and preventive measures that your establishment proffered in response to 

the NOS. The Verification Plan, which is enclosed with this letter, identifies your action plan, the 

relevant regulatory requirements, and the Public Health Information System (PHIS) tasks and 

frequencies under which FSIS officials will verify each corrective action. Please be advised that 

only FSIS can amend the Verification Plan, and should your establishment make any 

modifications to your food safety programs during the Abeyance period, you should submit these 

changes, in writing, to FSIS for verification of compliance prior to your establishment 

implementing these changes. 

You are reminded that as an operator of a federally inspected facility, you are expected to 

comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the regulations promulgated 

thereunder to ensure that livestock at your establishment are handled and slaughtered humanely. 

The regulations require establishments to take appropriate action(s) when either the 

establishment or FSIS determines that the establishment’s system controls for humane handling 

requirements are ineffective. 

It is also important for you to understand that FSIS has the responsibility to initiate actions if 

your establishment fails to operate in accordance with FSIS regulations, or conditions occur that 

may render products unwholesome or adulterated. In these situations, FSIS personnel will 

continue to take regulatory control of product and/or other administrative enforcement action. 

FSIS has the authority to reinstate the suspension or withholding action if your establishment 

fails to implement your proposed corrective actions and preventive measures or if the corrective 

actions and preventive measures are not effective. 

Please be advised that your failure to comply with regulatory requirements, to implement the 

corrective actions in your action plan, and/or to notify this office in writing of any changes to 

your action plan may result in the immediate reinstatement of the suspension of inspection or 

withholding action at your establishment. 

Appeal and Hearing Rights 

You have the right to appeal this matter and can do so by contacting: 

Sherri Johnson, 

Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations 

Office of Field Operations 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

United States Department of Agriculture 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

SB, Room 3162 

Washington, DC 20250 

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Page 2 of 3 
Thomas Kulas, Plant Manager Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

University ofNevada Reno, Reno Meat Plant March 27, 2024 

dba Wolf Pack Meats, Est. 6004 M/P 

Email: shenijohnson@usda.gov 

Phone: (202) 379-6196 

If you have any questions, please call the Alameda District Office at (510) 769-5712, by fax at 

(844) 622-0081, or via electronic mail at AlamedaDistrictOffice@usda.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Isl Frank Gillis 

Deputy District Manager (for) 

Gabrial Eddings, DVM DACVPM 

District Manager 

cc: 

, Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

S. Smith, OIEA Regional Director 

G. Abreu, DDM 

V. Felix, DDM 

F. Gillis, DDM 

FLS 

s 

, SEIAO 

, DVMS 

, ActingFLS 

, EIAO 

ITC at Est. 6004 M/P 

FO/Quarterly Repo11s 

An Equal Opportunity Providerand Employe.r Page 3 of 3