2015 Nebraska Revised Statutes
Chapter 54 - LIVESTOCK
54-744 Dead animals; carcasses; manner of disposition.

54-744. Dead animals; carcasses; manner of disposition.

(1) Except as set out in subsections (2) and (3) of this section and section 54-776, it is the duty of the owner or custodian of any dead animal to cause such animal, within thirty-six hours after receiving knowledge of the death of such animal, to be:

(a) Buried at least four feet below the surface of the ground or completely incinerated or composted on the premises where such animal dies or on an adjacent property under the ownership and control of the owner or custodian. Any vehicle used by the owner or custodian to transport such dead animal shall be constructed in such a manner that the contents are covered and will not fall, leak, or spill therefrom. Violation of this subdivision is a traffic infraction as defined in section 60-672; or

(b) Transported by a licensed rendering establishment to either a rendering establishment licensed under the Nebraska Meat and Poultry Inspection Law or to a facility with a permit to operate as a landfill under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act. The operator of a landfill is not required by this subdivision to accept dead animals.

(2) The Department of Agriculture shall regulate the composting of livestock carcasses and shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing the same. Any person incorporating livestock carcasses into a composting facility shall follow the operating procedures established by the Department of Agriculture in consultation with the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

(3) An animal carcass or carcass part may be transported by the owner or the owner's agent to a veterinary clinic or veterinary diagnostic laboratory for purposes of performing diagnostic procedures.

(4) In addition to methods listed in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, animal carcasses or carcass parts may be disposed of by a veterinary clinic or veterinary diagnostic laboratory by alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion. For purposes of this section, alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion means a process that utilizes an alkaline agent and heat to catalyze the decomposition and reduction of biological tissues. This section shall not exempt the products of alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion from any applicable law, rule, or regulation governing disposal of wastes.

(5) Carcasses disposed of in compliance with this section or section 54-744.01 are exempt from the requirements for disposal of solid waste under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act.

Source

• Laws 1927, c. 12, art. VIII, § 3, p. 92;
• C.S.1929, § 54-940;
• R.S.1943, § 54-744;
• Laws 1993, LB 267, § 9;
• Laws 1999, LB 870, § 4;
• Laws 2001, LB 438, § 8;
• Laws 2009, LB99, § 19;
• Laws 2010, LB882, § 1.

Cross References

• Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, see section 13-2001.
• Nebraska Meat and Poultry Inspection Law, see section 54-1901.