316 - 1
NRCS, NHCP
March 2003
Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain
the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD
ANIMAL MORTALITY FACILITY
(No.)
CODE 316
DEFINITION
An on-farm facility for the treatment or disposal
of livestock and poultry carcasses.
PURPOSE
This practice may be applied as part of a
conservation management system to support
one or more of the following purposes:
• Decrease non-point source pollution of
surface and groundwater resources
• Reduce the impact of odors that result
from improperly handled animal mortality
• Decrease the likelihood of the spread of
disease or other pathogens that result
from the interaction of animal mortality and
predators
•
To provide contingencies for normal and
catastrophic mortality events
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES
This practice applies where animal carcass
treatment or disposal must be considered as a
component of a waste management system for
livestock or poultry operations. It applies
where on-farm carcass treatment and disposal
are permitted by federal, State, and local laws,
rules, and regulations. It also applies where a
waste management system plan as described
in the National Engineering Handbook (NEH),
Part 651, Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook (AWMFH) has been
developed that accounts for the end use of the
product from the mortality facility. This
practice includes disposal of both normal and
catastrophic animal mortality; however, it does
not apply to catastrophic mortality resulting
from disease.
CRITERIA
General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes
The facility shall be designed to handle normal
mortality and/or catastrophic mortality.
The planning and design of animal mortality
facilities or processes must conform to all
federal, State and local laws, rules and
regulations. This includes provisions for
closin