Part 500 Integrator Registration Program

500.10 General.

  1. The Department encourages Integrators to be involved with the permitting and compliance of their growers.
  2. The Department encourages Integrators to assist growers in the disposal of dead animals and the proper utilization of animal manure.
  3. Integrating companies shall inform each prospective grower that they are required by State law to obtain a permit from the Department. The Department recommends that growers verify an exemption status from the Department prior to construction of an agricultural animal facility.

500.20 Submittal Requirements.

  1. Each integrating company that contracts with animal producers that operate facilities located within the State shall submit to the Department a Request for Registration form, as provided by the Department. The integrator shall work with the Department to identify growers that are unpermitted. The Department may schedule an annual inspection in order to review grower lists and identify unpermitted farms. The integrator shall provide the Department any additional information needed to contact unpermitted growers contracting with their company. Existing Integrators or integrating companies shall submit a request form to the Department no later than one year after the effective date of these regulations.
  2. Animal Manure Analysis Information. If the producers that contract with the integrator use the same feed rations and have dry animal manure analyses that come out to be consistently the same, they may qualify to use one analysis for their individual testing requirement. However, if any of these producers utilize a different feed ration, utilize a significant amount of medications as compared to the others, or use any other inconsistent bedding materials, animal manure treatments or vector treatments, they shall be required to run a separate and individual analysis on their animal manure. The Integrator is responsible for notifying the Department of any significant feed composition changes. This benefit shall not be available to liquid manure handling systems, since other factors specific to each site, such as rainfall could affect the nutrient analysis of the manure.
  3. If an integrating company can certify through general feed composition reports that a certain constituent, such as arsenic, is not present in their feed or medications, the producers that contract with that integrator may be exempt from testing for that constituent. The integrator shall submit a written request, along with general feed composition reports, and a list of growers who are using this feed ration. The Department shall approve this report in writing before the constituent can be removed from the analysis requirements. Each grower who is included in this exemption shall be notified in writing by the Department.
  4. Swine Integrators must submit a plan addressing cumulative environmental and public health impacts of their contracted facilities with their first request for integrator certification. The plan must cover the integrator=s existing contract growers and the projected 3 year increase in the number of permitted facilities and swine. The plan must include:
    1. The general area served by the integrator;
    2. The number of existing swine facilities under contract;
    3. he number of swine grown (broken down by facility);
    4. The number of projected new facilities (broken down by facility size) with the total number of swine;
    5. The integrating company=s: procedures, protocols, policies, programs, required manure treatment and utilization technologies, etc. to ensure the cumulative impacts from their contracted facilities do not cause any adverse impact to the environment or public health; and
    6. An assessment of the adverse environmental or public impact, if any, from the existing and proposed swine facilities under contract with the integrator.
  5. The Swine Integrator must also provide to the Department any other supplemental information that may reasonably be required by the Department to assess cumulative adverse environmental or public health impacts.
  6. The environmental and public health impact assessment plan must be approved by the Department before integrator certification can be granted. Once approved, the integrator may update the plan at any time. Also, the Department may require the plan be updated from time to time.
  7. All permits for growers under contract with the integrator must be in accordance with the integrator=s approved plan.

500.30 Certificate of Integrator Registration.

  1. The Department shall issue a certificate of integrator registration to integrators or integrating companies that meet all the requirements of this part.
  2. All integrators or integrating companies shall hold a valid certificate of registration to operate in the State.
  3. Certificates of integrator registration issued under this part do not have any administrative procedures for public notice under these regulations.
  4. The certificate of integrator registration may be modified, revoked or reissued if the requirements of this part are not met by the integrator or integrating company.

500.40 Reporting.

  1. The Department may establish reporting requirements for integrators as it deems appropriate. These reporting requirements may include the following:
  2. General feed composition reports. Feed composition reports provided in accordance with this section shall be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; and
  3. A list of any special treatments or chemicals added to the manure or manure storage structure that are required by the integrator.
500.50 Other Requirements.
  1. An integrator or integrating company shall not knowingly provide animals to an animal facility that does not hold a valid agricultural permit from the Department. Any existing, unexpired contracts may be fulfilled, but the integrator may not renew the contract until the facility has obtained a valid permit. The Department shall allow a grace period of at least one year for existing unpermitted farms.
  2. The integrator or integrating company shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal facilities that are under contract with the company are trained and educated on compliance with their permit to include the following:
  3. Notify growers of their responsibility to update their Animal Facility Management Plan and permit if changes are made in the operation of the farm; and
  4. Provide information on technical assistance to its growers on compliance and assist the producers in selecting a corrective action.

500.60 Violations.

  1. Persons who violate this regulation or any permit issued under this regulation are subject to the penalties in Sections 48-1-320 (Criminal Penalties) and 48-1-330 (Civil Penalties) of the South Carolina Pollution Control Act.