Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 2/11/15

A U.S. District Court judge has issued a protective order that prevents the federal Environmental Protection Agency from releasing certain location and contact information for livestock operations.

The protective order remains in place while the court considers a legal challenge brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The order is the latest development in a legal case brought by NPPC and the farm bureau last summer, seeking to prevent the livestock operators’ information from being released in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by activist organizations.

The court dismissed the lawsuit last month but the plaintiffs have filed an appeal, and sought the protective order while their appeal is under consideration.

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