Emory has been assessed a $15,000 civil penalty for alleged Animal Welfare Act violations at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center last year.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors in 2006 found rat droppings scattered around the facility and discovered that improperly labeled and assembled equipment led to the anesthetic death of a macaque monkey.

USDA spokeswoman Jessica Miteer said the complaint proceeded to court, where the judge offered a consent decision. By accepting it, Emory agreed to pay the penalty and to comply with the Animal Welfare Act without either admitting to or denying alleged violations.

Yerkes Chief of Public Affairs Lisa Newbern said Yerkes wanted to resolve the issue without admitting to the allegations of “willful violations” of standards of cleanliness and personnel training.

“The way [the complaints] were worded in the complaint was not true,” Newbern said. “We could not agree with that.”

Newbern said rodent control is always an issue because many enclosures and runs are outdoors and accessible to pests.

“[The inspector] notes that on her report, so that’s something we immediately pass along” to staff, she said.

Miteer said that the size of civil penalties or stipulations — settlements arrived at before going to court — is based on the size of the business, its history of noncompliance and the severity of the violations.

Miteer said Emory has previously paid two stipulations for alleged violations at Yerkes: one for $10,000 in December 1998 for water deprivation and another for $1,375 in May 2005 for primary enclosures that were too small.

Newbern said Yerkes is committed to providing humane care to its research animals.

“We never say we’re perfect, and we’re always open to getting better,” she said.

— Contact Susan McMillan.