EPA Burial at Sea Reporting Form: What to File After Scattering Ashes at Sea

The 30-Day Reporting Requirement

After scattering ashes in United States ocean waters, federal law requires you to file a notification with the EPA within 30 days. This falls under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), which governs all ocean dispositions of human remains.

The good news: no advance permit is required for private ash scatterings. The general permit covers you automatically. But the post-event report is mandatory, and it's filed through the EPA's Ocean Dumping Management System.

The 3-Nautical-Mile Rule

All ocean scatterings must happen at least three nautical miles (roughly 3.45 land miles) from the nearest shoreline. Have the captain confirm that the planned location meets the distance requirement.

Scattering directly from public beaches, piers, bridges, or within three nautical miles of shore is not legal under the MPRSA. If you're hiring a charter boat, the captain should know this — but confirm before booking.

The three-mile minimum applies to ashes only. Any flowers, wreaths, or urns released alongside the remains must be 100% biodegradable. Plastic, metal, synthetic flowers, floral foam, and standard non-biodegradable containers are prohibited.

What Information the Form Requires

The EPA notification asks for:

• Legal name of the deceased
• Date of death
• Date of the scattering
• Exact GPS coordinates of the scattering site
• Name and details of the vessel used

If you hired a charter service, the captain can provide the GPS coordinates. For a private boat, use your phone's GPS or a marine chart plotter and note the coordinates during the ceremony.

How to File

The filing is free. Submit it online through the EPA's Ocean Dumping Management System; the report is handled by the regional EPA office for the coastline where the scattering took place.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

The reporting requirement is to file within 30 days. If you're past the deadline, submit the report through the Ocean Dumping Management System and contact the EPA for instructions.

For families who want help keeping track of the paperwork timeline, the Scattering Ashes toolkit includes an Administrative Tracking Log with built-in deadline columns for the EPA filing, permit submissions, and document procurement.