15A NCAC 18A .0705. FACILITY OPERATIONS

(a)  Source of shellfish.  Shellfish shall be accepted for treatment at a shellfish depuration facility only from areas designated for this purpose by the Division and the Division of Marine Fisheries.  A detailed description of all areas from which shellfish may be taken for depuration purposes, updated as necessary, shall be prepared by the Division and the Division of Marine Fisheries, and kept on file by the facility owner or operator.  The facility operator shall inspect all containers of raw shellstock upon arrival at the facility to verify that they contain the shellfish species and quantity stated on the surveillance officer's reports.

(b)  Shellstock containers.  Shellstock shall be accepted for treatment and released after depuration in clean containers only.  All containers shall be constructed of non‑absorbent and rust‑proof material, and kept clean and free from foreign matter.  Burlap bags or similar absorbent material shall not be used for transporting shellstock to the depuration facility nor for the removal of shellstock from the facility.

(c)  Culling.  All untreated shellstock prior to, or upon arrival at the facility, shall be thoroughly inspected and culled.  All dead shellfish, or shellfish in broken or cracked shells shall be disposed of in a manner approved by the Division.  The owner or operator shall be held responsible for suitable culling and for the removal and disposal of dead shellfish or shellfish in broken or cracked shells after depuration.

(d)  Washing shellstock.  Before and after depuration all shellstock shall be thoroughly washed or hosed with water taken from a source approved by the Division under Rule .0413 of this Subchapter.  Immersion of shellstock for washing purposes is prohibited.

(e)  Depuration Baskets.  All baskets used in the depuration process shall be made of impervious material and shall not be more than four inches deep.  Baskets shall be of a design to allow water to flow freely over the shellstock in the depuration tanks.  Shellstock shall not be placed more than three inches deep in the baskets.  Baskets shall be stacked in a manner to allow free circulation of water.  There shall be at least three inches clearance separating containers of shellfish in tanks and between the containers and the bottom and sides of the tank.  Containers used for depuration purposes shall not be used for any other purpose and no containers or other equipment shall be placed in the depuration tanks.

(f)  Depuration.  All shellstock upon receipt at the depuration facility, shall be immediately placed in depuration or placed in controlled storage.  Shellstock shall be depurated for a period of 48 hours or longer as required to meet the bacteriological standards established in Rule .0709 of this Subchapter.

(g)  Washing depuration tanks.  After each 24 hours the sea water in the tanks shall be drained out and the shellstock hosed down thoroughly with water from a supply approved by the Division under Rule .0413 of this Subchapter.  All waste matter must be flushed out of the tank.  Immediately after hosing, the tanks shall again be filled with treated sea water.

(h)  Scheduled process.  A scheduled control purification process shall be established outlining the critical parameters for each depuration facility.  This scheduled process shall be written and posted conspicuously at the depuration site.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A‑230;

Eff. February 1, 1987;

Amended Eff. September 1, 1990; December 1, 1987.