Which agency regulates Burial at Sea?

• A. NOAA
• B. Environmental Protection Agency
• C. Coast Guard
• D. Department of Interior

Answer: (B)

Regulation of burial at sea comes from environmental protection rules, so the federal agency responsible is the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA administers a burial-at-sea permit program under federal environmental laws to ensure that placing human remains in the ocean is done in a way that protects marine ecosystems. This includes setting requirements on factors like distance from shore, the method and container used for disposal, and other safeguards to prevent environmental harm.

Other agencies have maritime or resource roles but do not issue the burial-at-sea permits or oversee the environmental aspects of ocean disposal. NOAA focuses on ocean science and navigation-adjacent matters, the Coast Guard handles safety and regulatory enforcement for ships and ports, and the Department of the Interior oversees federal lands and natural resources rather than the disposal of remains at sea.