Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 61-1C-6 - Standards for Composting6.1. Composting requires a covered structure consisting of a roof with an overhang and a concrete or otherwise impervious floor to prevent rainwater from reaching the composted material. The composter shall be designed and constructed to prevent the contamination of ground and surface water.6.2. The composter shall be located 100 feet from surface water, drainage ditches, and wet lands. The composter should be located as far from residences and public roads as possible, but at least 150 feet from the property line. A typical unit will contain two treatment areas. A primary treatment area may consist of one or more compartments. The secondary treatment area will be one compartment that will receive partially composted material from the primary treatment areas. Material in the primary treatment area is moved to the secondary area when it has reached a peak temperature of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit after seven to ten days. The composting process is complete when the temperature in the secondary treatment area has reached peak temperature of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit after seven to ten days.6.3. Growers shall not attempt to compost large numbers of poultry mortality without assistance and approval from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture in consultation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.6.4. Composting may be used for the disposal of mass mortality during an emergency situation. Mass mortality composting may be accomplished in the poultry house or at an outside location. In-house composting involves placing the poultry mortality and carbon materials in windrows inside the poultry house, and allowing the poultry mortality to go through the first heating cycle in these windrows. For the second heating cycle the windrows may be turned over and restacked in the poultry house, or the compost may be removed from the poultry house and restacked at an outdoor location. This location shall be situated to prevent the contamination of ground and surface water. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture in consultation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection shall select the site for composting in an outdoor location.