Scattering of Cremated Ashes in USA (Update)
As per 2010 US Census, 189,000 people of Asian Indian origin live in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington with population of 80,000, 104,000, and 5000 respectively. Most of them live in Baltimore-DC metro area and most of them follow Hindu Faith. According to some estimate there are about 3 million people of Indian origin in USA.With the aging, the need for funeral services is increasing. A great majority of Hindus follow cremation practices. Many funeral homes in the area have started offering facilities for cremation. In 2014, UHJT developed a eight page document called “Funeral Ceremony Guidance”. It includes what to do when death of family member is imminent, addresses and phone numbers of Temples for seeking priest services, funeral homes that have cremation facility, cost estimates, scattering of ashes. This document is available on the following websites: www.hindutemplemd.org and www.dcunitedtemples.org
Immersion of ashes in India
Some families may want to take the ashes to India, to immerse in the Holy Ganga at pilgrimage centers such as Haridwar.
Families should contact and work with Airlines, TSA, Embassy of India and Indian customs to follow the regulations.
A company ” Hindu Pratha” (http://hindupratha.com), started offering services in India/Haridwar for US families.
Immersion of ashes on ocean water in USA
Scattering of ashes on the ocean water is lawfully allowed in USA. The eastern states including Maryland follow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) law. The EPA has a general permit for those wishing to place their loved ones’ crematory ashes or whole bodies out to sea. “Out to sea” is defined as placing the ashes equal to or greater than 3 nautical miles away from the shore. http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/coast/burial.htm
State of Maryland does not permit scattering of cremated ashes in rivers or Bay. As per Memo of the Maryland (http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bom/pdf/cremated_remains.pdf) Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, burial and scattering of ashes should take place in Atlantic Ocean, 3 miles away from shore. That means, in Maryland, one can go to Ocean City or Delaware, or Virginia Beach, hire a boat, go to 3 miles away from shore into Atlantic ocean. This is one day activity and also weather dependent. The good news is that it is available to those who do not want to go to India.
Company Sea Services , who provides boat service, can also scatter for those families who do not want to go on boat. Families can ship ashes to the boat company. Information including discounted prices for UHJT members is given in the above brochure. State of California has requirement of 500 yards from shore for scattering of ashes. Each state has similar board who regulates scattering in water. Some states do not care as long as it does not bother public.
UHJT submitted a proposal in 2015 to the Executive Director of the Board of Funeral Directors to allow scattering of ashes in MD rivers and Chesapeake Bay. They discussed the proposal and advised that ashes are considered solid waste; not permitted in Bay or rivers. We also contacted the Director, Chesapeake Bay water, they also said that there is no such regulation and directed to the regulation to scatter in Atlantic Ocean, 3 miles away from shore. We also worked with EPA to relax the requirement to 500 yards similar to state of California. Unfortunately, they could not find as how it was done. So, the community should follow guideline of MD state given above to scatter in Ocean Water, 3 miles away from shore. Shyam Bajpai, UHJT
Note: This information is given as community service. Please check the latest information before making any decision.