While the owner of a New Mexico meat processing plant awaits USDA approval to begin processing horses for human consumption, that state's governor says she will ask the agency to deny placement of federal inspectors at the plant.

In 2007 a combination of legislation and court rulings shuttered the last remaining horse slaughter plants in the United States. Domestic horse processing became possible again in November when Congress passed an appropriations bill restoring revenue for USDA horsemeat inspections.

In December 2011 Rick De Los Santos, owner of Valley Meat Co. LLC, submitted an application requesting the placement of USDA personnel to carry out horsemeat inspections at his Roswell plant. In March USDA personnel conducted an application-related tour of the Valley Meat plant, De Los Santos said. A follow-up tour was slated for early April, but De Los Santos said he postponed it until work to retrofit the plant specifically for horse processing was completed. De Los Santos said if the USDA grants his application, horse processing at the Valley Meat plant could begin shortly. Products derived from the facility would be sold to a client in Mexico, he said.

While De Los Santos' USDA application is pending, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez announced she would send a letter to USDA administrators requesting they deny De Los Santos' application. Martinez' spokesman Scott Darnell said Martinez has not yet sent the letter to the USDA; however, Darnell provided TheHorse.com with Martinez' written statement opposing horse processing in New Mexico