ALABAMA

Carcass Disposal State Regulations

General

Depending on circumstances, large animal carcass disposal may be regulated by a state's solid waste, medical waste, agriculture, or emergency management regulations. If your state does not provide specific guidance or regulations relating to large animal carcass disposal, check with your local health department, or city/county laws and ordinances.

In addition, during emergency situations and disasters (e.g., blizzards, floods, hurricanes, mass die-offs, etc.), consult with your local emergency officials, your state emergency planning agency, or the state veterinarian, to determine approved methods of carcass disposal.

Applicable Agencies and Regulations for Alabama

Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Address: PO Box 301463, Montgomery, AL, 36101

Contact Information: http://adem.alabama.gov/inside/contact.cnt

Rules and Regulations: ADEM Admin Code Chapter 335-6-7- .26 (2)(i). Dead and diseased animals shall be managed and disposed of in accordance with NRCS technical standards and guidelines and as approved by the State Veterinarian, ADAI. Alabama Job Sheet No. AL316 (see Alabama State Board of Agriculture on this map) from USDA. Burial is not permitted for routine mortalities; should be used only in emergencies.

Alabama General Legislation

Address: 11 South Union St, Montgomery, AL 36130

Code or Document

Rules and Regulations: ALA CODE 3-1-28. Owners of dead animals shall burn or bury them within 24 hours of death.

Rules and Regulations: ALA CODE 2-16-41.Poultry producers must have adequate facilities as authorized by the State Board of Agriculture to dispose of dead poultry, poultry carcasses, unhatched or unused eggs and other poultry waste.

Alabama State Board of Agriculture

Address: 1445 Federal Dr, Montgomery, AL 36107

Contact Information: http://www.agi.state.al.us/directory

Rules and Regulations: Alabama Job Sheet No. AL316 NRCS Animal Mortality Facility. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard for an animal mortality facility: An on-farm facility for the treatment or disposal of livestock and poultry carcasses. Disposal options addressed:

• Rendering: Disposal by rendering is a preferred method.

• Landfilling: Disposal by using an ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) approved landfill is a preferred method.

• Burial: Disposal pits for normal mortalities are not allowed in Alabama by order of the State Veterinarian. Burial of animals is not permitted for day-to-day mortalities. Burial shall be used only for catastrophic losses or occasionally to dispose of a large animal.

• Burning: Incinerators shall be Type 4 (human and animal remains only) and be on ADEM's approved incinerator list.

• Composting: Shall conform to Alabama NRCS conservation practice standard, Composting Facility, Code 317 (available at http://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/AL/tg317.pdf), or the guidance in National Engineering Handbook (NEH) Part 637, Chapter 2 - Composting (available at http://www.wsi.nrcs.usda.gov/products/w2q/awm/docs/neh637c2.pdf). Emergency disposal by composting shall be done under a roofed structure, and may require a concrete pad or liner if the soil is unsuitable.

• Other Methods: Freezers may be used to store carcasses until such time as they can be emptied.
  
  

Rules and Regulations: Alabama Emergency Disposal of Dead Animals. Each producer shall have an emergency disposal plan in place, including a list of phone numbers of those to be contacted for approval and assistance. A form for this list can be found at http://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/AL/ALCNMP1.pdf. The State Veterinarian with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is responsible for approving methods of dead animal carcass disposal. Disposal options addressed:

• Rendering: This is the preferred method of carcass disposal for catastrophic deaths.

• Landfilling: At a landfill approved by the ADEM.

• Burial: Site assessment must be done by local NRCS and approval of the site must be gained from the State Veterinarian.

• Burning: Incinerators shall be Type 4 (human and animal remains only, not for household garbage or refuse from production houses) and be on ADEM's approved incinerator list for disposal of dead animals for both the incinerator model and type of fuel.

• Composting: Gives directions as well as references.

More Information

Livestock Carcass Disposal (Alabama Cooperative Extension). A review of applicable statutes and regulations.

The Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI) maintains a database of carcass disposal state regulations promulgated by state environmental, agricultural and other agencies. There may be additional information on this site, not found on VetCA, that can be helpful to veterinarians, ranchers and farmers. Click here to access the CWMI information for Alabama.

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