President-elect Barack Obama might have broken Environmental Protection Agency regulations when he tossed the cremated remains of his grandmother into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Nuuanu, Hawaii, earlier this week.
As the website of Hawaiian NBC-TV affiliate KHNL reported Tuesday (video available here):
Secret Service security keeps a close watch as Obama, oldest daughter Malia and sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, among others, make their way down to the rocky shoreline. Together, they spread the ashes of Madelyn Dunham. It's the same spot Obama paid tribute to his mother last August.
Yet, as reported by the Turkish website SABAH Saturday, such a procedure may not be legal:
A ceremony arranged for his grandmother, whom he lost during the election process, may end up causing quite a headache for Barack Obama.
In a ceremony held in Hawaii, Obama, teary-eyed, poured his grandmother's ashes into the sea from the sand-lined shore. Environmentalists were quick to stand up against the move.
The reason behind the contention was the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources Protection Law, which prohibits ashes from being dropped into the ocean. According to the regulation in place, ashes must be poured at a distance of at least three nautical miles. It has not yet been determined whether Obama will receive a fine for his actions.
According to the EPA's website:
Disposal location and measures - Non-cremated remains
Burial at sea of human remains that are not cremated shall take place at least 3 nautical miles from land and in water at least 600 feet deep. Certain areas, including east central Florida, the Dry Tortugas, Florida and west of Pensacola, Florida to the Mississippi River Delta, require water at least 1800 feet deep. Refer to the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 229.1 (PDF) (1 p, 149K, About PDF) for details. All necessary measures shall be taken to ensure that the remains sink to the bottom rapidly and permanently.
Disposal location and measures - Cremated remainsCremated remains shall be buried in or on ocean waters without regard to the depth limitations specified for non-cremated remains in paragraph 2 above provided that such burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land.
The SABAH article said, "Environmentalists were quick to stand up against the move."
Clearly, these environmentalists aren't members of the American media, for I haven't been able to find any reports concerning this matter.
I wonder why.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Well....
December 27, 2008 - 18:09 ET by BlondeColor me shocked that no mention has been made of this in the media here.
The S.O.B. was too cheap to charter a boat and do this properly, apparently. Go figure.
Season of Miracles?
December 27, 2008 - 18:39 ET by acumenThe S.O.B. was too cheap to charter a boat and do this properly, apparently.
Blonde - I'm still trying to figure out why 'the one' didn't bring his typical white granny back to life (not politically expedient?). Or at the least, for her proper burial, walk on the water for 3 miles and deposit her ashes. And what's with Oahu being in the dark while the light of the world is on retreat there?
Man o man!!
December 27, 2008 - 18:47 ET by sentforth5That's what I call some serious sarcasm. Gotta love it!
Spot on, Hugh
December 27, 2008 - 18:54 ET by BlondeYou and I are always on the same wavelength.
Seriously, he'd screw up a wet dream.
The S.O.B. was too cheap
December 27, 2008 - 19:44 ET by stratmanIt's more difficult to get the right photo-op 3 miles out to sea.
And it would have taken too long for Barky's patience since granny was only a typical white person.
Quite so.
December 27, 2008 - 21:06 ET by BlondeAs a land-borne alternative, he could have just thrown her ashes under a bus....poor granny, tossed twice under the bus.
You nailed it though....poor granny's "burial" was nothing more than a photo-op for Barry.
From the photo, it looks
December 28, 2008 - 07:18 ET by motherbeltFrom the photo, it looks like he's throwing her ashes on the rocks, not into the ocean!
wha??? oblahblah did sup'm illegal??
December 27, 2008 - 18:13 ET by sentforth5he's never done a legal thing in his life! What's one more?
He IS illegal.
Coke-head piece of crap.
PRICELESS
December 27, 2008 - 18:16 ET by choselife3xOne election: $600 million
One Hawaiian vacation: $120,000
One fake silver urn: $25
One pile of fireplace ashes: $0
Lots of pissed off liberals: PRICELESS
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Are you sure that those
December 27, 2008 - 18:18 ET by jistincaseAre you sure that those ashes weren't the reamains of his birth certificate and school records.
LMAO!!!
December 27, 2008 - 18:29 ET by choselife3xThat's what he was burning in the fireplace!
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
→ Free pass
December 27, 2008 - 18:19 ET by Cool ArrowI give Obama a free pass on this one to mourn the loss of his grandmother the only way he knows how.
She is ashes. She's not hurting anybody.
Concur
December 27, 2008 - 18:27 ET by DingbatThere is enough real stuff to criticize.
Still
December 27, 2008 - 18:53 ET by NorthCoasterPEBO will be the top legal officer of the nation and he's already setting a bad example. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
I agree, lets move onto the
December 28, 2008 - 16:21 ET by amiesI agree, lets move onto the real issues people.
Real issues
December 28, 2008 - 19:38 ET by choselife3xLike how the sunlight glistens on his chiseled pecs, or how he is so cool, or how he is the man, and how is wife is a goddess. It's all crap. Crap, crap, crappy crap. And who are you to care what crap we choose to crap on, you don't live here. Move on to your own issues in your own country.
Hell, if I lived in Ireland I wouldn't waste my time in front of a computer, I'd be out soaking up all that God created gorgeousness.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
amies, here is a real issue for ya. It involves newborn babies.
December 28, 2008 - 19:45 ET by R D HelmWhat Kind of Monstor would do this - Obama?
December 28, 2008 - 19:27 ET by Retired Geek
2000-2001
=========
Obama opposes a bill that defines as a “person” a fully born baby who survives an abortion.
Obama votes “present” on legislation that would require doctors to
give medical attention to babies who survive abortions. Obama argues
that defining “…a pre-viable fetus" that survived an abortion as a
"person" or "child would essentially bar abortions, because the Equal
Protection Clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this
is a child, then this would be an anti-abortion statute."
2002-2003
=========
In 2002, Obama, as an Illinois legislator, votes against the “Induced
Infant Liability Act,” a law meant to protect the lives of babies who
“inadvertently” survive attempted abortions and then need medical
attention to survive; Obama’s is the sole vote against the bill, and a
similar bill later passes unanimously in the United States Senate.
Obama votes against an Illinois bill banning state funding of late term abortions.
In 2003, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act again comes up in the
Illinois Senate; as chairman of the Health and Human Services
Committee, Obama shelves the bill, preventing it from even being
brought to the Senate floor for a vote.
Michelle Obama, in February of 2004, sends a fund-raising letter
with "alarming news" that "right-wing politicians" had passed a law
preventing partial-birth abortions, which she called "a legitimate
medical procedure;" she asks supporters to pay $150 to attend a
luncheon for her candidate husband, who would fight against "cynical
ploy[s]" to stop late-term abortions.
-Dave
It's a rhetorical question,
December 27, 2008 - 19:05 ET by Uncle JohnIt's a rhetorical question, right?
Where's the Vetting?
December 27, 2008 - 19:10 ET by Del DolemonteI would think Barry's crack lawyers would have checked up on Hawai'i state law re. this stuff.
Obama don't need no
December 27, 2008 - 19:16 ET by Clear thinkerObama don't need no stinkin' lawyer, the MSM would swear that the pics were photoshopped. They got his back!
Al Gore Wants You & Your Money!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Looks to me like...
December 27, 2008 - 19:34 ET by JPR1someone might be afraid of heights.
What a pansy. If you're gonna be dramatic, get out to the edge man.
That said, it seems like a dumb-a** law. Looking at that surf I imagine you could drop the ashes of everyone who died in the US over the last forty-eight hours and in seventy-two hours you'd never know the difference.
Into the ocean? I thought he
December 27, 2008 - 19:46 ET by ApacheInto the ocean? I thought he would throw her under the bus again. I found myself downwind of one of these ceremonies once on a windy day. I was trying to eat a hamburger and once I realized what I was seeing I threw it away. I suspect the deceased’s name was Mrs. Dash.
Blast From the Past
December 28, 2008 - 13:34 ET by Del DolemonteThere was a ckassic episode of "Married...With Children" that featured Al Bundy's annual Labor Day Barbeque. When Peggy accidentally knocked last years ashes out of Al's Weber grill, she panicked and sent daughter Kelley out to find some "replacement" ashes. Of course, dim bulb Kelley found some, namely the ashes of neighbor Marcy's Aunt Tootie.
Later in the show, Al was eating one of his famous Bundy Burgers, which are made better by the use of last year's ashes in the grill. He got vegan Marcy to dry one, and she admitted they were delicious, not knowing that Auntie's ashes were part of the mix.
Al suddenly paused while eating..."oops, got a bit of bone". It was gross and hilarious at the same time.
→ Rev 16:3
December 27, 2008 - 20:00 ET by Cool ArrowAnd the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
Lets see
December 27, 2008 - 20:46 ET by DelsaHussian went out to the big island before his grand mum died to ransack the attic and now after her death to toss ALL the secrets over the cliff.
How lucky can a guy get?
Question
December 27, 2008 - 20:52 ET by DelsaLooking at the photo, did Hussian throw grand mum over the cliffs or onto them?
He's an A hole.
Obama reverently tosses Nana onto rocks
December 27, 2008 - 21:12 ET by choselife3xDidn't look like she made it to the water. Bummer. *restraining wild, inappropriate laughter*
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
With CROCODILE TEARS BARRKY says ...
December 27, 2008 - 21:03 ET by Jayke... "Goodbye Toots". He tossed her under the bus and now he tosses her on the tide. I believe she knew too much. She knew he really wasn't born in Hawaii and that he traveled to PAKI with an INDONESIAN PASSPORT. She KNEW that he is an ILLEGAL ALIEN/FAUX-PREZ. You are such a JERK BARRKY.
I'll give PEBO a pass here.
December 27, 2008 - 21:10 ET by R D Helm1) Because there is absolutely no room left under his bus.
2) Because I believe that government in general, and the EPA in particular, has no business involving itself in how someone disposes of a family member's ashes, unless their disposal somehow interferes with the life/liberty/property of another American. Clearly, that is not the case here.
3) Because I don't believe for a minute that those ashes in the photo are actually those of his dearly departed Granny.
-Dave
Dave
December 27, 2008 - 21:16 ET by choselife3x3) Me neither. See post below. :)
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
MSM will let him do anything he wants
December 27, 2008 - 21:16 ET by jarrett.edwardsObama could make it a law that every single dead person in the country has to be cremated and dumped in the sea and the MSM would cheer it as a great environmental breakthrough. However, if Bush had thrown a dead goldfish in they would have attacked him as the biggest polluter since that Exxon oil tanker crashed.
jarrett, you have to realize that PEBO is black and a democrat.
December 27, 2008 - 21:35 ET by R D HelmIn these hyper-sensitive, PC and affirmative action times, that is practically a license to steal.
Don't believe me? Just ask William "Cold Cash" Jefferson.
And if you're a black politician with a D at the end of your name, and who just happened to get yourself elected POTUS, you get a super-special license. :-)
-Dave
Nicely Choreographed
December 28, 2008 - 14:56 ET by CaringwhiteguyAnother perfect photo op. Good sight lines for the telephoto lenses. A great made-for-TV moment.
Better than the Clintons dancing on the beach, and almost as good as the pec parade.
Too true, cwg
December 28, 2008 - 15:00 ET by Blondean observation about ashes
December 28, 2008 - 01:37 ET by dark_dsas someone who worked at cemetery for 17 years the pic seemed rather dusty ... cremains are more like kitty litter in composition ....not so powdery .... maybe it was made to be more visual .. sorry to be so cynical
That’s kinda tacky, dark,
December 28, 2008 - 02:17 ET by maggieqpublicThat’s kinda tacky, dark, but I must agree with you. Sixteen years ago, my dear father-in-law blew back over the boat in a sudden gusty ocean wind. (He would have loved the dark comedy aspect of the moment.) Anyhow, it wasn’t powdery.
maggie yea it was tacky
December 28, 2008 - 15:54 ET by dark_dsmy tackiness comes from dealing with 17 years of cemetery "situations" so I can be kinda cold about that kind of stuff ... how he and his family want to deal with his Grandmothers ashes are their business ... Im more interested in the hypocrisy of the massive carbon footprint that the Obamas have when on vacation ....
You've jumped the shark
December 28, 2008 - 14:32 ET by vaboxrboyThe law was to protect the environment. I lost my best friend and his ashes were put in a burial vault like a casket which was a pain for all of us. You can no longer scatter ashes wherever the departed wanted you to. But to try to frame this as some law breaking thing is just disgusting. You can't argue against "green" laws and the say this is wrong. Let the family do what they need to do to cope with their grief and let your own gripes stop at this border!
Cheers, Chuck
I think Noel's point here
December 28, 2008 - 14:42 ET by R D HelmI think Noel's point here is to expose the rampant hypocrisy of the lefty enviro-kooks and their MSM dog-washers.
Had a non-liberal (someone with something other that a "D" at the end of their name) had acted in a similar fashion as Obama did here, I am quite sure that more than one MSM outlet would be raising hell about it.
Having said that, just exactly where does the government get the authority to tell me, or anyone else, just how we can and cannot dispose of a loved one's ashes?
The law was to protect the environment.
Yeah, we all know what a danger to life, liberty and property those scary ashes can be, don't we?
-Dave
Of course if this situation
December 28, 2008 - 16:34 ET by bigtimerOf course if this situation were reversed with a repub candidate that had won, why Carol Browner would have been beside herself!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Get real!
December 28, 2008 - 23:08 ET by fastfoodIf it were all that "Illegal" most of us would be in the brig. Such subject matter is so 'Super Market Tabloid' I am surprised NB even let such a childish [b]story[/b] be posted. NB, which I once held in high regard is getting closer to the trash heap each day. Such a shame!
The trash heap you say
December 28, 2008 - 23:17 ET by bigtimerThe trash heap you say ff...get a grip, lighten up some...join reality here....
At least you gave me something to laugh about before I leave for the evening.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Yes! the trash heap, I say!
December 30, 2008 - 21:33 ET by fastfoodIt is getting pretty difficult to find anything of substance in the news. NB is still a pretty good old rag but it seems to be trying pretty hard to follow in the foot steps of the so-called MAIN-stream media. Perhaps it is a case of too much 'journalistic license.'
ff.... Cute by
December 30, 2008 - 21:42 ET by bigtimerff....
Cute by half...
You must not read to well, there is plenty to read here with all the different blog posts that are very in-depth.
Something that maybe you can't tread into...a little spooky for you eh?
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
To me that's a pretty
December 29, 2008 - 12:51 ET by RR GOPTo me that's a pretty stupid/non issue concerning the environment.
But...what does matter, quite obviously, that if any average Joe dared to do that (or can you imagine someone like Sarah Palin? Oh, I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth in my head) they would be lambasted over this.
So, a pretty obvious Leftist hypocrisy angle in my book.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
RR GOP
December 29, 2008 - 17:09 ET by NorthCoasterAbsolutely right. The bottom line is:
Do we follow/enforce only those laws that we like or do we follow/enforce all of the laws. Barrack as the President elect, should be an example of the latter, whether we think the law is correct or not.
Personally, I would participate in a similar activity and take the consequences, but I'm not PEBO.