State of California

Burial at sea

    Allows for burial at sea of cremated remains by boat or plane 500 yards off the
shoreline.  "At sea" includes inland navigable water, but excludes lakes and streams.
Scattering cremated remains from a bridge or pier is prohibited.  Cremated remains must be removed form the container or urn before scattering.

Scattering or placing on public or private property

    Cremated remains may be scattered or placed on public or private property
provided that:

• There is no local prohibition

• The cremated remains are not distinguishable to the public and not in a
  container

• The person with the control over the disposition has written permission of the
  property owner or governing agency

(*When the final disposition has taken place, the first copy of the cremation permit
must be filed with the local registrar of death of the county of disposition within 10
days of disposition.  The third copy shall be returned to the registrars 
office of issuance)

Cremated remains at home

   Cremated remains may be kept at home if the cremated remains are in a 
durable container.

Federal Law

Burial at sea

   The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires the burial of cremated
remains at sea occur at least 3 nautical miles from land and that each burial of
cremated remains be reported to:

United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region IX
Attention: Regional Ocean Dumping Coordinator
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 774-2125