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.