Section 287.655. Composting.

(1) Unless otherwise approved by the director, composting methods shall accommodate only normal daily natural mortality under common ownership, and be designed with capacity for both active composting and curing.

(2)    Active composting consists of all of the following:

(a)     Organic materials.

(b)     Aeration and moisture management.

(c)     Heat production.

(d)    Repeated temperature patterns.

(3)     Bulking agent is a material added to compost to provide nutrients, decrease bulk density, promote aeration, and remove heat. Bulking agent also means amendment, medium, carbon source, and feedstock. Any of the following may be used as compost bulking agents:

(i)     Dried grass.

(ii)     Hay.

(iii)     Chopped straw.

(iv)     Chopped corn stover.

(v)     Chopped bean stover.

(vi)     Unpainted wood chips that do not have additives or preservatives.

(vii)       Unpainted shredded bark that does    not  have  additives  or preservatives.

(viii)           Sawdust  which  is   unpainted  and  which  does    not      have     additives     or preservatives.

(ix)     Leaves.

(x)     Grass clippings.

(xi)     Grain hulls.

(xii)     Poultry litter or litter cake.

(xiii)     Animal manure solids.

(xiv)     Waste animal feeds.

(xv)     Finished or cured compost.

(xvi)      A mixture of  any   of  the  recommended   bulking  agents  listed  in subdivisions

(i) to (xvii)  of this subrule.

(xviii)  Other, as approved by the director.

(4)     Curing is the period of time after  active  composting  for  further decomposition at a slow rate. Less intense heat production and lower temperatures will be sustained during curing.

(5)       In response to a written request, the use of composting methods other than as specified in this rule and the Michigan Animal Tissue Composting Operational Standard (Michigan State University and NRCS), as adopted by reference in R 287.651a, may be permitted by the director.

(6)      One or more of the following methods of composting shall be  used   and passive, forced, and (or) active aeration may be used with each method:

(a)     Open pile.

(b)     Bin.

(c)     Windrow.

(d)    In-vessel.

(e)     Other, as approved by the director.

(7)      The composting structure shall be constructed and maintained to withstand structural damage caused by active composting and equipment used for compost aeration and movement. Any structural damage  to   the  structure shall be repaired before it is used again for active composting.

(8)     The site for composting shall maintain the following minimum isolation distances:

(a)      Two  hundred  feet  from waters of the state  as  defined  in   R 287.651(1)(o)(i) to (viii).

(b)      Two feet above the seasonal high water table, as defined by NRCS 313 Waste Storage Facility Conservation Practice Standard, and adopted by reference in R 287.651a.

(c)     Two hundred feet from any well.

(d)    Two hundred feet from nearest non-farm residence.

(9)      The composting site shall be selected and/or graded to direct surface runoff away from the  compost  site  and  prevent  effluent  from contacting surface waters.

(10)     For an animal production operation accumulating more than 20,000 pounds of mortality annually or any animal process operation, regardless of composting method, composting shall be done in compliance with the following:

(a)     All active, finished, curing, and cured compost at the site shall  be located in or on, 1 or both of the following:

(i)          On an improved surface, as defined by NRCS 313 Waste Storage Facility Conservation Practice Standard, and adopted by reference in R 287.651a, (see section on "Liners") and designed to withstand anticipated loads from the equipment used for placement, aeration, and movement of compost.

(ii)     In an in-vessel system.

(b)     All effluent generated and runoff events during active composting and curing, not retained in the compost, shall be managed in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and with at least 1 of the following:

(i)     Reintroduced into compost piles.

(ii)        Collected and stored in a storage facility with a liner that meets the criteria defined in NRCS 313 Waste Storage Facility Conservation Practice Standard and adopted by reference in R 287.651a, and utilized for crop production in accordance with the recommendations in Generally Accepted

Agricultural Management Practices for Nutrient Utilization, January 2010, as established in 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.471, and published at http://michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1567_1599_1605-70361--,00.html.

(iii)      Diverted to a treatment system meeting the criteria in NRCS 635 Wastewater Treatment Strip Conservation Practice Standard, and adopted by reference in R 287.651a.

(iv)     Other methods, as approved by the director.

(11)   For an animal production operation accumulation less than 20,000 pounds of mortality annually, composting may be done without a structure or vessel provided the following conditions are met:

(a)   A new composting site is selected for use annually. The following shall apply:

(i)   Use of the current year's site may continue until the compost is finished, but not more than 2 years from the time of the first dead animal addition, at which time the finished  compost  must  be  disposed of in accordance with Rule 5(10).

(ii)   No new tissue is added to a site after 1 year  from the first dead animal addition.

(iii)   A new site may be immediately adjacent to a previous site.

(iv)   A previous site is not reused within a 10-year period of time.

(b)   A new site is on land used in crop rotation.

(c)   A new site is not directly above subsurfacing drains or tile.

(12)   Active composting shall maintain all of the following:

(a)   Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio minimum of 15:1.

(b)   Moisture content, range of 40% to 60%.

(c)    At least 1 reading of a temperature greater than 130 degrees Fahrenheit after the initiation of a batch with the temperature measured at a depth of 1 foot into the compost once weekly. A temperature reading shall be conducted twice per week for a rotating drum, continuous flow, in-vessel system.

(i)     The following conditions shall be met for active composting:

(A)      Composting temperature may remain in a range of 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for several weeks.

(B)    Properly timed aeration and (or) moisture alterations.

(ii)      Each batch of animal tissue compost must undergo a minimum of 3  heat cycles of active composting before final utilization.

(iii)      A  static   compost  pile   may  be  aerated  passively,   by  periodic agitation, mixing or turning, or by using forced aeration.

(13)     A person shall manage the composting process in compliance with the guidelines described in the Michigan Animal Tissue Composting Operational Standards, as adopted by reference in R 287.651a, and all of the following:

(a)      The composting process shall be managed in batches. Composting shall involve controlled active and curing phases, temperature-based aeration, and a planned end point of not more than 2 years from the time of the first dead animal addition to a batch. Complete curing is not required.  Compost  is considered finished based on its planned use as a soil amendment or rooting medium, and its aesthetic acceptability. In the context of animal tissue composting, finished  and  cured   are  different  terms. Compost  shall  be finished; however, complete curing is not required.

(b)      Dead animals shall be added to  the   compost  batch  within  24  hours following death.

(c)     Afterbirth may be stored in closed impervious containers and shall  be added to the batch within 3 days of initiating container use.

(d)      Initially, the compost pile or windrow shall be constructed with a base of dry absorbent bulking agent that is at least 1 foot deep before any dead animal is added for composting. A base depth of 2 feet shall be used for dead animals of greater than 600 pounds body weight.

(e)     Dead animals shall not be placed in the pile or windrow closer than  6 inches to any edge or wall.

(f)     Dead animals shall be covered by a minimum  of   6  inches  of  bulking agent and not be exposed.

(g)     Pieces of hide remaining at the completion of curing shall be removed and added to a new active compost batch or shall be disposed of under section 21 of 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.671, before the compost may be sold or transferred or applied to crop land.

(h)      Large bones of mature animals remaining at the completion of curing shall be crumbled during the mechanical spreading process or removed and added to a new active compost batch, or disposed ofunder section 21 of 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.671, before the compost may be sold or transferred or applied

to crop land.

(i)     Flies, rodents, pests, vermin, and other scavengers or predators shall be controlled so as not to disrupt the compost piles or constitute a risk or health hazard to human or animal populations.

(j)       Odors shall be controlled in accordance with the Michigan Animal Tissue Composting  Operational  Standards,  as adopted by reference in R 287.651a.

(14)   The disposition of finished compost may be by direct application to soils, sale, or other transfer of ownership. Application to soils shall be done in accordance with the recommendations within the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for Nutrient Utilization, January 2010, as specified in 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.471, and published at http://michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1567_1599_1605- 70361--,00.html.

(15)   In the interest of public health or animal health, the director may require that any compost be tested at a laboratory approved by the director for certain pathogenic organisms or any contaminant at any time before the compost leaves the composing site.

(16)       Composting dead animals shall not be removed from the  composting site, except as finished compost, unless the dead animal is disposed of in accordance with section 21 of 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.671.

(17)        The owner or operator of the composting site shall keep records for 5 years containing the following information and shall make the records available to the director immediately upon request:

(a)     The start date of each compost batch.

(b)      The approximate weight, maturity, and species of dead animals or afterbirth added each time an addition is made and the dates the tissue is added to new compost batches.

(c)     The temperature of each batch measured weekly, shall be  taken  at  a minimum of 1 foot deep into the compost.

(d)    The date compost is mechanically aerated shall be recorded.

(e)      The final disposition of finished compost, including the method, destination, date, and volume for the batch.

(18)      A contingency plan to remedy problems and ensure the proper disposal of dead animals shall be kept at the compost site. The contingency plan shall include all of the following information:

(a)     A list of the following:

(i)     The location of telephone numbers for and emergency numbers for the police, the fire department, and medical aid.

(ii)     The person or persons responsible for the composting operation.

(b)     An action plan for all of the following emergencies:

(i)     Fire.

(ii)     Wind.

(iii)     Flood.

(c)      Plans for the proper disposition of dead  animals  if   composting  is temporarily or permanently terminated.

History: 1995 AACS; 2007 AACS; 2011 AACS.