1. A. Basic Operating Requirements.

   1. (1) The permit holder shall keep a permanent record of:

      1. (a) The starting and ending date of each natural organic reduction; and
      2. (b) The daily temperature data for each natural organic reduction, including records showing that the minimum temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit was reached for seventy-two consecutive hours.

   2. (2) The Registered reduction operator shall ensure:

      1. (a) Only a vessel that is designed to promote aerobic reduction, minimizes odors and vectors, and is leak-proof, durable, noncorrosive, and fully sealed is used for natural organic reduction;
      2. (b) A registered reduction operator is on site during business hours;
      3. (c) A registered reduction operator is able to monitor active vessels at all times;
      4. (d) Compliance with all other applicable local, State, and federal laws and regulations; and
      5. (e) Vessels reach an internal minimum temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit for seventy-two consecutive hours during natural organic reduction.
   3. (3) The reduction facility shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
   4. (4) The reduction facility, including the bulking agent receipt area, bulking agent storage area, active vessel storage area, curing area, and soil remains storage areas, shall be maintained to prevent nuisances, odors and vectors.
   5. (5) Bulking agents shall be received in a timeframe and managed to prevent nuisance odors, unauthorized discharge of contact water, fire, and scavenging by vectors.

   6. (6) Veteran and Eligible Dependent Decedents.

      1. (a) Unless the authorizing agent directs otherwise, a permit holder in possession of human remains of a decedent veteran or a decedent eligible dependent shall, within 5 business days of the initiation of the natural organic reduction provide the decedent’s identifying information to a veterans service organization, as defined in § 5-803 of the Business Regulation Article.
      2. (b) The veterans service organization will notify the permit holder whether the decedent is a veteran or eligible dependent eligible for burial in a veterans cemetery.

      3. (c) The permit holder will notify the authorizing agent whether the decedent is eligible for burial in a veterans cemetery. The authorizing agent may authorize the permit holder to:

         1. (i) Transfer a portion of the soil remains to a veterans service organization that grants permission for the purpose of disposition; and
         2. (ii) Transfer the balance of the soil remains to a cemetery or the owner of a woodland protected under the Forest Conservation Act.

      4. (d) If a veterans service organization does not take possession of a portion of unclaimed soil remains under this regulation that qualifies for a plot in a State veterans cemetery under § 9-906 of the State Government Article, within 10 days after the reduction facility receives the notification, the reduction facility shall:

         1. (i) notify the Department of Veterans and Military Families of the status of the soil remains for the purpose of the appropriate disposition of the soil remains;
         2. (ii) transfer the soil remains to the Department of Veterans and Military Families for the purpose of the appropriate disposition of the soil remains; and
         3. (iii) if authorized by the cemetery or owner, transfer the balance of the soil remains to a cemetery or the owner of a woodland protected under the Forest Conservation Act.
   7. (7) Soil remains may not be stored on site for longer than 12 months, unless approved by the Office on a case-specific basis and addressed in the RFOP.

2. B. General Restrictions.

   1. (1) A permit holder shall not engage in operating a reduction facility in a manner which will likely:

      1. (a) Create a nuisance;
      2. (b) Be conducive to insect and rodent infestation or the harborage of animals;
      3. (c) Cause nuisance odors or other air pollution in violation of state, local, or federal laws and regulations unless permitted by state, federal, or local authorities;
      4. (d) Cause a discharge of liquid or solid waste derived from human remains to waters of this State unless otherwise permitted by state, federal, or local authorities; or
      5. (e) Create other hazards to the public health, safety, or comfort as may be determined by state, federal, or local authorities.

   2. (2) A registered reduction operator may not:

      1. (a) Perform natural organic reduction on human remains which are known, or reasonably suspected, to have been embalmed or have an infection, disease, or other biological condition that renders the process of natural organic reduction or the soil remains unreasonably unsafe, including:

         1. (i) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or other prion disease;
         2. (ii) Ebola virus infection;
         3. (iii) Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection;
         4. (iv) The presence of diagnostic or therapeutic radioisotopes; or
         5. (v) Any other infection, disease, or biological condition identified by the Director based on the reasonable recommendation of a federal, State, or local health authority;
      2. (b) Use or dispose of soil remains on public or private property without the prior written permission of the owner or surviving owner of the property;
      3. (c) Knowingly use or sell the soil remains to grow food for consumption by humans or livestock;
      4. (d) Combining or incorporating the soil remains into compost offered for sale to consumers or for commercial or agricultural purchasers.
3. C. The Office, in exercising its authority under these regulations with respect to granting or renewing permits or inspecting a reduction facility may consider any documentation required under these regulations to evaluate whether any of the conditions described in these regulations is likely to occur or has occurred.

Authority: Business Regulation Article, §5-204, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 30, 2026 (53:6 Md. R. 287)