Scattering ashes at sea in coastal waters – USA: Permission Law Procedure

Scattering ashes in the sea in US coastal waters

When scattering cremation ashes at sea in the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency requires the following:

• The ashes be dropped at least three nautical miles from land.
• Within 30 days, a loved one must submit a report citing:
  • the location,
  • the distance from shore,
  • the water depth; and
  • the vessel name involved in the scattering ritual – why I have no idea?

In detail this is what the EPA requires:

Before sea burial

Creamted ashes shall be prepared for burial at sea and buried in accordance with accepted practices and requirements as may be deemed appropriate and desirable by the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, or civil authority charged with the responsibility for making such arrangements. For example, local health departments may require burial or cremation permits.The United States Navy Burial at Sea Program provides additional information.

Disposal location and measures – Cremated ashes

Cremated remains shall be buried in or on ocean waters without regard to the depth limitations specified for non-cremated remains in paragraph 2 above provided that such burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land.

Decomposable flowers and wreaths

Flowers and wreaths consisting of materials that are readily biodegredable in the sea may be placed at the burial site.

Notice to EPA within 30 days

All burials conducted shall be reported within 30 days to the EPA Region in writing. The following information should be included and mailed or faxed to the Region 4 contact at the bottom of this page.  You can copy the information below or complete and print the Region 4 burial at sea form (PDF)

Region 1:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

Ann Rodney (rodney.ann@epa.gov)
Burial at Sea Coordinator
US EPA Region 1
1 Congress St.
Boston, MA 02114-2023
(617) 918-1538

Region 2:

New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Patricia Pechko (pechko.patricia@epa.gov)
Burial At Sea Coordinator
US EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866
(212) 637-3796

Region 3:

District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

Renee Searfoss (searfoss.renee@epa.gov )
Burial At Sea Coordinator
EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 814-2137

Region 4

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
Attn: Gary Collins
61 Forsyth Street Southwest
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 562-9395   Fax: (404) 562-9343
E-Mail: Gary Collins (collins.garyw@epa.gov)

Region 6:

Lousiana and Texas

Jessica Franks (franks.jessica@epa.gov)
Burial At Sea Coordinator
US EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
(214) 665-8335

Region 9:

California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas and Trust Territories

Allan Ota (ota.allan@epa.gov)
Burial At Sea Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-3476

Region 10:

Chris Meade (meade.chris@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA Region 10
PO Box 20370
Juneau, AK 99802-0370
(907) 585-7622