Section 287.652. Disposal of dead animals and residue from burning process of dead animals.

 (1) Dead animals, excluding restaurant grease, buried in individual graves shall be in compliance with all of the following requirements:

(a)    The dead animal shall not come in contact with waters of the state.

(b)     The number of individual graves per acre shall not be more than 100 and the total combined animal weight shall not be more than 5 tons per acre.

(c)     Individual graves shall be separated by a minimum of 2 1/2 feet.

(d)     A grave shall not be located within 200 feet of any existing groundwater well that is used to supply potable drinking water.

(e)     The owner of the land has authorized the placement of the dead animal.

(2)      Dead animals, excluding restaurant grease, buried in a common grave shall be in compliance with all of the following requirements:

(a)     Dead animals in a common grave shall be covered with at least 1 foot of soil within 24 hours of burial.

(b)     A common grave shall not remain open for more than 30 days and shall receive not less than 2 feet of soil as final cover.

(c)     Dead animals shall not come into contact with waters of the state.

(d)     The total weight of dead animals in common graves shall not be more than 5,000 pounds per acre, and if there is more than 1 common grave per acre, each common grave within that acre shall be separated by a  minimum  of 100 feet.

(e)         A  common  grave   shall  be  located  not  less  than   200  feet  from   any  existing groundwater well that is used to supply potable drinking water.

(f)    The owner of the land has authorized the placement of the dead animals.

(3)      By written request, an exemption to the total number of individual or graves per acre or the total weight of carcasses in an individual or common grave may be granted by the director upon concurrence with the director of the department of environmental quality.

(4)          Residue from the burning process of dead animals may be land-applied at agronomic rates or properly disposed of in a landfill licensed by the department of environmental quality under the natural resources and environmental protection act, part 115 solid waste management, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.11501 to 324.11554.

(5)       If the director suspects that the disposition of dead animals, or the residue from dead animal incineration would produce a source of toxicological contamination that represents a threat to the health of humans or animals or a toxicological threat to the environment, the director may require that the dead animal or animals, or the residue from the dead animal incineration, be disposed of in a manner determined by the director. The cost of the disposal shall be the responsibility of the owner.

History: 1995 AACS; 2007 AACS; 2015 AACS.