Brief Description: Regulating the disposal of dead animals.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Schoesler, Shin, Jacobsen and Sheldon; by request of Department of Agriculture.

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade

Background: The Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Animal Health Program is charged with preventing the introduction or spreading of harmful animal diseases. The program monitors animal movement across state lines, conducts tests and inspections, and undertakes emergency management planning. Along with other state and local agencies, it has responsibilities concerning disposal of dead animals.

Currently, animals dead from disease must be immediately buried at least three feet deep. Any animal found dead is presumed to have died from disease. Dead animals that did not die from disease may be sent to a rendering plant.

It is suggested that these requirements are too restrictive and do not provide appropriate options for disposal of dead livestock.

Summary: Dead animal disposal provisions are narrowed to apply only to "livestock," including horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, ratites, poultry, waterfowl, and game birds. "Livestock" does not include most free ranging wildlife.

WSDA is granted rulemaking authority to prescribe the time frame and methods of disposal of livestock that die from disease. Disposal methods may include burial, composting, incinerating, landfilling, and natural decomposition or rendering.

Only livestock found dead from an unknown cause are presumed to have died from disease.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   0
House      97   0

Effective: June 7, 2006