Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 211 - RULES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL CARCASSES › Section 001-211-7 - ANIMAL CARCASS DISPOSAL CATEGORIES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Animal carcasses, which require disposal, fall into one of
				  the following two categories: Catastrophic and Routine.
1.
Disposal of Animal Carcasses from
				Catastrophic Events
A.
Notification Required
In the event of a catastrophic occurrence requiring carcass
				  disposal, the owner must notify the Department.
B.
Final Authority for Catastrophic
				Disposal Plan
In all catastrophic carcass disposal cases, the authorization
				  to implement the carcass disposal plan shall rest with the Commissioner.
C.
Procedure
Upon notification of a catastrophe, the Commissioner may take
				  the following steps:
(1). Visit the
				site and determine whether or not there is a need for carcass
				disposal;
(2). Authorize the
				implementation of the carcass disposal plan for the farm or other regulated
				facility;
(3). Develop the disposal
				plan if no approved plan exists or if the previously approved plan cannot be
				implemented, or an alternate approach is more appropriate;
(4). Keep a record on file of the disposal
				plan used and any authorized amendments;
(5). Ensure compliance with the carcass
				disposal plan or authorized procedure; and
(6). Undertake any other steps necessary to
				ensure proper disposal of the carcasses occurs.
D.
Acceptable Methods for Catastrophic
				Animal Carcass Disposal
The owner shall, with the Commissioner's prior approval, use
				  one of the following methods of disposal:
(1). Rendering facilities;
(2). Burial;
(3). Incineration;
(4). Composting;
(5). In-house Composting;
(6). Landfilling (Transport to an approved
				landfill);
(7). Alkaline
				hydrolysis; or
(8). Other methods
				approved by the Commissioner
E.
Methods for Disposal of Carcasses
				Suspected to Contain TSEs.
Disposal of carcasses suspected to contain TSEs will be
				  determined on a case by case basis by the Commissioner. Methods known to
				  destroy TSEs include alkaline hydrolysis and high temperature (greater than
				  1650°(C) incineration. Other methods may be approved by the Commissioner
				  based on evidence of effectiveness (NOTE: Other technologies that have promise
				  are thermal hydrolysis, novel pyrolysis (ETL Energy Beam) and plasma arc
				  technology).
F.
Catastrophic Disposal of Small Flocks of Poultry
As an alternative to the procedures in these rules, disposal
				  of a small flock of poultry (fewer than 500 birds) may be done by following the
				  procedures outlined in the University of Maine publication: "Safe Disposal of
				  Backyard Poultry Mortalities" 2006. The responsible party having a flock
				  suspected to have a highly contagious disease such as HP Avian Influenza shall
				  report the disposal to the Commissioner.
G.
Site Evaluation for Catastrophic
				Carcass Disposal -
All methods of disposal require a site evaluation
				(setbacks, availability of power, access, etc.). Some methods also require
				soils evaluation.
(1). Disposal Methods
				Requiring Soil Evaluation
-
Methods in which contact between
				carcasses and associated materials with the soil will require a soil
				evaluation. These methods include, but are not limited to, composting,
				incineration using a trench type air curtain burner, and burial.
(2). Soil Evaluation. Sites where a soil
				evaluation is required must be evaluated by an NRCS employee, a State of Maine
				Certified Soil Scientist, or other qualified professional in accordance with
				this and other appropriate sections of this rule.
(3). Disposal Methods not Requiring Soil
				Evaluation - Plans for disposal methods not requiring soil evaluation shall be
				developed by qualified individuals with training and/or experience in the
				particular disposal methods. These methods include, but are not limited to,
				in-house composting, anaerobic digestion, alkaline hydrolysis, incineration
				using standard incinerators, acid fermentation, and other methods that are
				completely enclosed so that there is no contact with the soil or
				water.
(4). Requirements for Plans
				for Other Methods Shall be Determined on a Case by Case Basis by the
				Commissioner.
H.
Records of Catastrophic Carcass Disposal Operation
(1). Records Required
The responsible party shall be responsible for maintaining a
				  record of all catastrophic carcass disposal operations. Copies of catastrophic
				  carcass disposal records kept by responsible parties must be provided to the
				  Department.
(2). Minimum
				Content of Records Required At a minimum, catastrophic carcass disposal records
				shall include the following information:
(a).
				Name of party responsible for the carcasses;
(b). Location (shown on a topographic map,
				aerial photo or Maine Atlas) of the property where the activity
				occurred;
(c). Disposal site
				location (shown on a map or aerial photo of the property). This shall include
				the GPS coordinates of the disposal site;
(d) Type of animal carcass or animal product
				disposed of;
(e). Quantity of each
				animal, product or other material disposed of;
(f). Method of carcass disposal;
				and
(g). Cause of
				mortality.
(3). Length
				of Time Records of Catastrophic Carcass Disposal Must be Maintained:
(a). Burial - A Record of a burial site shall
				be maintained by the farm or regulated facility for at least 10
				years.
(b). Other Land-Based
				Methods of Disposal - Records of other land-based disposal of carcasses such as
				composting and air curtain incineration shall be maintained by the farm or
				regulated facility for a minimum of 3 years.
(c). Non-land Based Disposal Technologies -
				Records of non land-based disposal of carcasses such as anaerobic digestion or
				alkaline hydrolysis shall be maintained by the farm or regulated facility for a
				minimum of 1 year after the resulting product has been disposed of.
(4). For Carcass Disposal by
				Burial, Composting, or Incineration Using a Trench Air Curtain Burner, the
				Following Site-Specific Data, Shall be Included:
(a). Soils information, if
				required;
(b). Engineering
				techniques employed, if any;
(c).
				Scaled or dimensioned site plan showing property lines, buildings, slopes,
				north arrow, waterbodies, disposal plan details and construction details
				(including carcass thickness for burial) and any other information which is
				pertinent to the project;
(d).
				Profile or cross section of the disposal site (burial only);
(e). Erosion control measures;
(f). Date catastrophic event
				occurred;
(g). Inspection and
				maintenance schedule and records for the site; and
(h). Person or organization responsible for
				preparing the plan.
I.
Carcass/Debris Separation
				Required
As much as is reasonably possible, carcasses shall be
				  separated from inorganic debris such as metal or roofing. If reasonable
				  separation is not possible, disposal shall be determined on a case by case
				  basis by the Commissioner in consultation with the Maine Department of
				  Environmental Protection.
J.
Storage of Carcasses from
				Catastrophic Events
Carcasses may be stored only long enough to arrange proper
				  disposal. If ambient air temperatures are above freezing and storage must be
				  for more than 24 hours the responsible party shall seek guidance from the
				  Commissioner on issues such as leachate and vector control. Vector control
				  measures must be put in place to prevent access by vectors to the
				  carcasses.