Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-105.6

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 567-105.6 - Specific requirements for composting of dead farm animals

Operators of dead farm animal composting facilities are encouraged to be trained, tested, and certified by a department-approved certification program upon approval of such a program by the department. A facility that composts dead farm animals is exempt from permitting if the following operating requirements are met and the facility is in compliance with 105.3(455B,455D). Businesses or individuals that are neither the owner nor operator of any of the sites where dead farm animals are generated and that want to compost dead farm animals must obtain a permit in accordance with 567-1058. (455B,455D).

(1) Before commencing operation, the operator is encouraged to notify the department field office with jurisdiction over the facility. The department may provide general assistance, such as locating bulking agents and providing advice in regard to siting considerations such as pad location, sizing and design, to facilities notifying the department and requesting assistance.

(2) Farm animals known or suspected to have died from an infectious disease that can be spread by scavengers or insects or that died from a reportable disease shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship and the department.

(3) Transportation vehicles shall be constructed to prevent the release of mortality contaminated materials under normal operating conditions. The most direct haul route that avoids biosecurity risks shall be utilized.

(4) The composting facility shall be designed to accommodate at least the average annual death loss for all sites using the composting facility. Facility design shall also take into account space requirements for managing raw materials (e.g., additional bedding and bulking agents needed for mortality composting) and finished compost.

(5) Animal mortalities from a catastrophic event, such as a fire or electrical outage, shall not be composted until the department field office is contacted and arrangements are approved for the appropriate treatment or disposal of the animals. The facility shall contact the department field office with jurisdiction over the facility as soon as possible after such a catastrophic event occurs to receive approval of the disposal option.

(6) Dead farm animals shall be incorporated into the composting process within 24 hours of death. An adequate base layer (from 12 to 24 inches thick, depending on the size and number of dead farm animals) with 6 to 12 inches of bulking agent between carcasses and an additional 12 inches of cover material shall be maintained around carcasses at all times to control mortality leachate and odors and to prevent access by scavenging domestic and wild animals.

(7) Dead farm animals shall not be removed from composting until all soft tissue is fully decomposed.

(8) Compost (including bones that have not fully decomposed) shall be applied to cropland in a manner that minimizes the runoff into a water of the state. Application of the compost to lands other than cropland shall require prior approval by the department.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-105.6