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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 09.34.12.02" title_num="09" subtitle_num="34" chapter_num="12" heading="Inspection by the Office.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A reduction facility shall be available for inspection by a representative of the Office at any time during operating hours.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Each reduction facility shall be inspected:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>On at least a biennial basis;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In furtherance of an investigation; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Upon the initial permitting, sale, or change of ownership of the reduction facility.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A reduction facility shall maintain the following minimum standards:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The premises shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary manner to comply with Centers for Disease Control's guidelines on universal precautions and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Except by express, written consent of the authorizing agents to perform simultaneous, multiple reductions, there shall be no more than one decedent in a single vessel at a time;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A vessel shall be cleaned after each natural organic reduction to prevent unauthorized co-mingling;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>There may not be co-mingling of human remains and pet remains in the holding facility;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Separate vessels shall be dedicated for the reduction of human remains and the reduction of pet remains;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>There may not be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Co-mingling of one decedent’s soil remains with another decedent’s soil remains or reduced pet remains without written consent by the authorizing agent;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any form of misrepresentation in the return of soil remains;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Human remains shall be properly identified before natural organic reduction by verifying that the documentation accompanying the human remains is consistent with a visual observation of the human remains;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>A burial transit permit shall be an original document pertaining to the decedent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Each reduction facility shall have:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A sink with hot and cold water in the room in which the vessel is housed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The equipment necessary to thoroughly clean the floor within the room housing the vessel with water and an appropriate sanitizing agent;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>The name of the decedent shall be visible on the outside of the vessel;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Human remains shall be properly stored prior to natural organic reduction;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Reduction facilities shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Use only mechanical pulverizing equipment meeting industry standards that are cleaned between each use; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Pulverize the soil remains with a mortar and pestle when the soil remains are not sufficient in amount for pulverizing in mechanical equipment;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Separate pulverizing drums shall be dedicated for soil remains and reduced pet remains;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>A reduction facility may not refuse to release soil remains pending payment of outstanding fees;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>Portable fans may not be used in the area of the vessel, where curing occurs, or pulverizing equipment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>A registered reduction operator shall be present at the reduction facility during regular business hours;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>Reduction facilities shall be capable of monitoring the status of each vessel’s progress during natural organic reduction; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>All individuals who operate the vessels in a reduction facility shall be certified by the Cremation Association of North America, International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, or other equivalent certification recognized by the Office and the Board. Individuals receiving training toward certification to operate a vessel shall be allowed to work under the supervision of a registered reduction operator with written permission from the Office.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The following completed forms shall be available at all times for inspection and copying and are subject to be pulled at random by the inspector:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Natural organic reduction authorization form;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Burial transit permit;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Delegation of authority form;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Receipt for human remains;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Record of each natural organic reduction, including evidence of all human remains reaching a minimum temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 consecutive hours during the natural organic reduction;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Certificate of natural organic reduction;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Return of soil remains certificate; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Reduction Facility Operations Plan (RFOP).</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A reduction facility shall have and follow an RFOP that contains a high-level overview of the operational procedures for the reduction facility in order to comply with the requirements of these regulations, to include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A description of the methods, equipment, and bulking agents to be used;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A description of the movement of materials throughout the reduction process, including a description of the locations to be used at the reduction facility for receipt, active reduction, curing, and storage phases.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Total amount of vessels;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>A plan for the prevention of nuisances, including odors;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>A plan for the prevention of harborage and infestation of vectors;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>A plan and procedure for monitoring temperature of each vessel, including a procedure for demonstrating that the pathogen reduction requirements of Regulation .11 of this chapter are met;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>A plan and procedure for monitoring moisture during reduction;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>A plan for periodic inspection of the site by the reduction operator or personnel;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ix)">
          <text>A description of an ongoing testing program to ensure the safety of soil remains produced, compliant with Regulation .11 of this chapter;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(x)">
          <text>A procedure for recording instances where soil remains failed the testing program and actions taken by the registered reduction operator to bring the soil remains into compliance with Regulation .11 of this chapter; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(xi)">
          <text>Establish any other reasonable prohibition, rule, or requirement the Director determines is necessary to protect the public health and safety during the process of natural organic reduction.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The registered reduction operator shall review the RFOP internally every 6 months and update the RFOP when there is a change in registered reduction operators, procedures, or bulking agents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Inspection results shall be written on forms approved by the Office.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The representative of the Office performing the inspection shall, upon completion of the inspection:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Apprise the permit holder of the findings of the inspection; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provide the permit holder or a representative of the permit holder with a copy of the inspection report.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The permit holder or representative of the permit holder shall sign and verify receipt of the inspection report.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>At the time of the Office's inspection, the permit holder shall provide written documentation to the Office’s inspector that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The vessel has been inspected in accordance with manufacturer specifications;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In accordance with manufacturer specifications, it is not time for a manufacturer's inspection; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The permit holder has requested that the manufacturer conduct an inspection of the vessel.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>