A temporary restraining order issued last Friday by a United States District Court is keeping a horse processing plant in Sigourney from opening. According to court documents, the animal rights groups that filed the lawsuit and pursued the restraining order claim the USDA failed to conduct the necessary environmental studies before a permit for horse slaughtering was issued to Responsible Transportation.

A bond hearing for the temporary restraining order is scheduled for today. A bond will need to be paid to the company for losses caused by the delay, if the groups lose the lawsuit.

According to the United States Department of Justice an answer to the complaint from the USDA is due by early September.