How to Be Lawfully Buried at Sea
The funeral is old news, thanks to a recent thread on Reddit. If you’re looking for a swanky burial ground, here’s how to do it.
Over the weekend, Redditor Mike6575 discovered a prominent page on the Environmental Protection Agency website : a page dedicated to the legal right to be buried at sea.
And it is true. According to the website, you can be easily buried at sea if you follow a few rules set by the EPA (in fact, it’s probably easier to be buried at sea than renewing your driver’s license).
If you want to choose a water burial, here are some rules to follow:
- First, you need to obtain a general MPRSA (Marine Environment Protection Research and Preserves Act) authorization. This allows any human remains from the United States to be transported to nearby ocean waters. However, you do not need to apply for a pre-burial permit if you apply within 30 days of burial. To apply, you can find and contact an EPA representative in your area .
- You don’t have to be cremated, but if you choose to be buried in a coffin, the coffin must contain a minimum of 20 two-inch holes, weigh at least 300 pounds, and cannot float (for obvious reasons).
- If you ditch the box, the EPA recommends wrapping it in natural fiber or cloth and adding extra weight to make your body sink. Materials that are difficult to biodegrade, such as plastic, are not allowed on your body.
- Human remains must be released at least three miles from any coast of the United States.
- If you are a veteran of the military, you may be able to negotiate with the US Navy or the Coast Guard.
“Interesting,” says Redditor CetteChanson. “It doesn’t really mean that the body should be dead.”