Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 211 - RULES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL CARCASSES › Section 001-211-11 - COMPOSTING REQUIREMENTS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Composting may be used as both a routine disposal method and
				  as a catastrophic disposal method for animal carcasses and slaughterhouse waste
				  (offal).
1.
General Composting
				Requirements
A.
Compost Media for
				Animal Carcass Composting
The media used for composting carcasses shall provide the
				  conditions that will support hot aerobic composting. The composter should refer
				  to
Best Management Practices for Animal Carcass Composting
				  2011,
Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources, for
				  guidance in selecting an appropriate compost medium.
B.
Site Evaluation and Selection
Routine mortality compost sites shall be selected on the
				  basis of the standards in Tables 3 through 7 located at the end of these rules.
				  If site modifications or changes to setbacks are needed, this shall be done
				  with the advice of a qualified professional (see definitions). Catastrophic
				  compost sites shall be evaluated for suitability by a qualified professional on
				  a case by case basis (see Appendix C for guidance in doing this).
C.
Stormwater and Leachate
				Control
For all compost methods that may generate leachate or runoff,
				  the surface upon which the compost materials will be placed shall have a slope
				  that is no greater than 6% or less than 1.5%. The preferred slope is between 2%
				  and 4% to allow rainfall to run off from the pad rather than collect on it. A
				  vegetated buffer strip shall be maintained down slope from the pad to act as a
				  filter for any water that leaves the pad. (See Table(8). Vehicle traffic shall
				  be minimized in the vegetated buffer strip to reduce compaction of the soil.
				  Additional storm water controls may be required on a case by case basis.
				  Stormwater control measures shall be designed by the Natural Resources
				  Conservation Service (NRCS), a private engineer, a certified soil scientist or
				  other qualified professional.
D.
Testing Requirements
Compost Products From a Disease Outbreak - Compost made from
				  carcasses that resulted from a disease outbreak (such as foot and mouth disease
				  or avian influenza) shall be tested for the survival of the specific disease
				  agent involved.
E.
Odor and Vector Attraction
Animal carcass compost sites shall be managed to minimize
				  odors and the attraction of insects and other vectors. All carcasses or offal
				  shall be covered with an appropriate compost medium as soon as possible. In no
				  case shall carcasses remain uncovered for more than 24 hours when temperatures
				  are 40° F or above. Offal shall be covered within 4 hours of delivery to
				  the site
.
F.
Records
In addition to the records required for catastrophic disposal
				  in Section 7.1.H, the following records shall be kept for catastrophic carcass
				  compost operations:
(1). Location and
				date the piles were built;
(2).
				Temperatures. Temperature records shall be maintained if the compost product is
				to be distributed to the public; and a
(3). Record of disposition of compost - There
				shall be a record of the final disposition of each batch of compost produced.
These records shall be maintained for one year after the
				  compost product has been distributed.
G.
Failure to Reach Temperature
				Requirements
Compost that fails to meet the method-specific time and
				  temperature requirements must be re-composted or spread on the producer's own
				  fields or forest land.
H.
Disposition of Product
(1).
				Compost produced from routine mortalities and offal may be distributed for
				general use by the public if it has met the time/temperature standards
				established for the specific compost system being used. The farm or regulated
				facility must retain records showing that the time/temperature standard was
				met. Compost may be spread on the regulated facility's own fields even if no
				temperature records are kept or do not indicate that the time/temperature
				standard has been met.
(2). The
				disposition of compost made from carcasses that result from a catastrophic
				event shall be determined on a case by case basis by the
				Commissioner.
(3). Compost produced
				from routine mortalities or offal shall be utilized or removed from the
				regulated facility's site within two years of its production.