IDAHO

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 Idaho

Idaho Department of Agriculture

Address: 2270 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712

Contact Information: http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/ContactUs/indexContactUs.php

Rules and Regulations: IDAPA 02, Title 04, Chapter 17, 02.04.17: Rules Governing Dead Animal Movement and Disposal. Dead animals shall be disposed of within seventy-two (72) hours after knowledge of the death of the animal or as provided by the Administrator. No person shall dispose of a dead animal on the land of another without the permission of the property owner. Disposal options addressed, include:

• Rendering: By a licensed and approved rendering facility. When carcasses are held for pickup, the site shall be screened from public view, in a dry area and not in a water runoff or drainage area. Run-off from the holding area must be contained.

• Landfilling: Arrangements may be made with a city, county, regional, or private landfill official in order to dispose of a dead animal in a city, county, regional or private landfill.

• Burial: Buried at least 3 ft below ground surface, covered with at least 3 feet of soil with other setbacks provided: 300 ft from wells or other water supplies, 300 ft from residences, 50 ft from property lines, 100 ft from public roadways, 200 ft from bodies of water and not in low-lying areas subject to flooding, or in areas with a high water table where seasonal high water level may contact the burial pit.

• Burning: Incineration in approved facility, or by a mobile air curtain incinerator at a site approved by the Administrator. Open burning is not allowed unless authorized by the Administrator in coordination with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

• Composting: Composting of dead animals shall be accomplished in a manner approved by the Administrator. No composters that have been approved by other agencies shall begin composting dead animals without the approval of the Administrator.

• Other Methods: Digestion approved by the Administrator, decompose naturally if animals die on private or state rangeland if they are not domesticated livestock.

More Information

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 Idaho.

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