This study examined the legislation of thirty-five states and synthesized the guidelines for manure disposal. The focus of the study was to aggregate the common rules and regulations in the legislation of the thirty-five states, to develop guidelines which will assist educators, and to develop a decision taxonomy which will improve the selection of animal wastes mangement practices. This research was conducted as a field study and was based on two sources of information, a literature review and a requesting letter. The information from thirty-five responding states was practically analyzed. The guidelines regarding waste management of each state were compiled into resumes which include the same information for each state. The information from the resumes was organized into chart form for easier access. The data present in both the chart and the resumes were practically analized according to the number of required guidelines for each state, the number of states which require each guideline, and a comparison by state. A decision taxonomy of animal waste management was developed to outline techniques which are cost effective and environmentally sound. No practical relationships appeared when the states' legislations were compared based on demographic similarities and differences. The only slight relationship was found when comparing milk producing states. Regulated areas vary within the large milk producing states. There is also often a discrepancy between the regulations of small milk producing states and large milk producers. In some areas the two groups were in agreement, and in some areas, they disagreed. Based on a practical analysis, there was no trend of evidence which would allow for generalization of practices among the states even when the states are demographically similar. The data were organized into four easy-to-follow segments to provide educational literature which is convenient to use.

This is the proceedings of the Animal Waste Management Initiative Northeast Planning Workshop held in March 2001. Experts from extension, NRCS, state regulatory agencies, and others met to prioritize research and education needs in the Northeast region of the US.