Coalition Says Permit Did Not Consider the Impact on Environment and Endangered Animals as Required by Law

For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2010

Contact:
Shalin Gala 757-622-7382

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Following a primary court ruling in a lawsuit brought by PETA and other animal advocates that halted construction of the Bioculture monkey breeding facility in Guayama, Puerto Rico, the plaintiffs have now filed two legal briefs in opposition to appeals by Bioculture and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. PETA and other animal advocates argue that the primary court's injunction should be upheld for the following reasons:

* Bioculture's construction permit was issued illegally. The Regulations and Permits Administration did not consider an Environmental Impact Determination as required by Puerto Rico's Environmental Public Policy Act. This determination is necessary because the Bioculture facility may contaminate the water in the area and because the building site contains both culturally significant archaeological artifacts and animals who are on the endangered species protection list.
* The building permit was issued to Bioculture on the premise that the facility would be used for agricultural or livestock purposes. Instead, Bioculture intends to breed thousands of primates and send their babies to laboratories for invasive and deadly experiments.
* The plaintiffs have legal standing to sue Bioculture for violations of its construction permit, having proved in the injunction hearing that they are neighbors of the Bioculture construction project and would suffer negative consequences if the facility were constructed. One plaintiff testified under oath that his property is adjacent to Bioculture's property.

"The appeals from Bioculture and the commonwealth are an attempt to deflect attention from what the primary court found to be Bioculture's illegally obtained construction permit," says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Clearly, the goal is profit, but it comes at the expense of sensitive young animals who are sold into a life of imprisonment, deprivation, loneliness, and pain."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.