VA DEQ and USDA NRCS Planning Efforts

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have identified management options for potential emergency poultry and swine depopulation or mortality events in non-disease scenarios, such as storm events or supply chain interruptions due to the effects of COVID-19 on meat processing plants.

This information is not intended for animal-disease scenarios, such as avian influenza, which requires more stringent biosecurity protocols and additional coordination with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).

Animal Mortality Management Hierarchy

DEQ recognizes that animal disposal options vary across the Commonwealth. This hierarchy formally recognizes DEQ’s ordered preference of mortality management options in Virginia: 

1. Rendering
2. On-site Composting
3. Off-site Concentrated Composting
4. On-site Above-Ground (Shallow) Burial
5. Incineration at Permitted Incinerator with Air Pollution Control Equipment
6. Disposal in Permitted Sanitary Landfill
7. Below-Ground (Deep) Burial

See Table 1 below for a summary of mortality management requirements.

Reporting Emergency Animal Depopulation and Mortality Events to DEQ

To notify and request DEQ assistance for emergency animal depopulation and mortality management, USDA, poultry and swine integrators, farm owners, and others should call the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at (800) 468-8892. 

For non-emergencies, the public may contact Betsy Bowles (DEQ Animal Feeding Operations & Animal Waste Program Coordinator) at (804) 659-1913, or Priscilla Rohrer (DEQ Solid Waste Compliance Coordinator) at (540) 574-7852, during business hours (Monday – Friday; 8:30AM- 4:30PM).

DEQ Response

DEQ will assist USDA NRCS in providing oversight of all mortality management activities. If the mortalities will be managed on the producer's farm through on-site composting or on-site shallow burial, DEQ subject matter experts will provide technical assistance on siting, carbon sourcing, management, and end use of compost. If the mortalities will be disposed in a permitted sanitary landfill, a Special Waste Disposal Request (SWDR) Form for Emergency Animal Mortality is required. For off-site concentrated composting or below-ground (deep) burial, an emergency solid waste permit application is required. DEQ regional solid waste program staff will evaluate all landfill SWDR forms and emergency solid waste permit applications on a case-by-case basis and provide a written response to the applicant.

DEQ Site Visits / Inspections

If mortalities are managed through on-farm composting or on-farm shallow burial, DEQ will conduct site visits to provide compliance assistance, as needed. Where an emergency solid waste permit is issued, DEQ will conduct periodic inspections using the siting, operational and closure criteria required by the emergency solid waste permit. Where a SWDR is approved, DEQ will conduct a landfill inspection using the special waste disposal conditions required as part of the SWDR approval. Additionally, DEQ animal waste staff can provide compliance assistance for the other disposal methods not mentioned above. DEQ regional staff in the solid waste programs and animal waste programs will coordinate any site visits or inspections.

Biosecurity

When conducting site visits or inspections at animal mortality management sites, DEQ staff will follow the agency's biosecurity guidance, which requires staff to use boot covers and Virkon-S to decontaminate boots and truck tires.

Table 1: Animal Mortality Management Requirements