After Funerals in San Diego CA, many family members want to have the deceased person cremated and then scatter the ashes in an appropriate place. They’ll want to know whether this is allowed in the areas where they want to distribute the ashes and whether doing so is ever illegal.
Private Property
Cremated ashes are sterile, so there is no risk of contamination even if the deceased person had a deadly contagious disease while alive. Nevertheless, not all owners of private property are comfortable with the idea of cremated ashes being scattered there. However, the owners may agree to a request if it is presented respectfully. For instance, if the deceased person loved staying at a resort on a lake, the owner might agree that the family can release the ashes from a pier connected with the resort.
Families must keep in mind that many places they might consider public actually are private. For instance, they cannot drive up to the Los Angeles area and release the ashes at Disneyland, since the theme park does not allow this. Directors of an organization such as West Coast Cremation & Burial Services may be able to provide more information on where this activity is acceptable.
Parks
Most national parks, as well as many state and county parks, do not prohibit this activity. However, they typically ask people to be discreet, meaning not to pile up ashes around a hiking trail or within view of a bench where people sit and enjoy the scenery. The family members might release the ashes from a high point in the park like a cliff overlooking a valley. It must be realized that these ashes look distinctive. They don’t look like the remains of a campfire, for instance.
Burial at Sea
After Funerals in San Diego CA, the family may hope to scatter the ashes in the ocean. The Environmental Protection Agency considers this to be a kind of burial at sea and requires the action take place at least three miles from land. Flowers also are allowed to be dropped into the water. The persons who will be responsible for distributing the ashes are required to file a form with the EPA.
