Petition in Opposition to Miami-Dade County Proposed Ordinance Relating to Crematories
The Issue
Legislative Item File Number 221575
Miami-Dade is proposing legislation to permit existing funeral homes to install a crematory as close as 250 feet from existing residences in unincorporated areas. The legislation does not consider the distance between a crematory and schools, parks, and restaurants with outdoor seating. The legislation also does not limit the crematory hours of operation.
Each of the undersigned represents that he or she is a resident of Miami-Dade County and opposes the above referenced legislation in its current form. We are concerned about the malfunction of these facilities resulting in unsightly and toxic smoke, ash, and other possible carcinogenic contaminants negatively affecting our environment, the air we breathe, our health, and that of our children, and nearby property values. Any such legislation should limit a crematory to no closer than 1 mile from existing residences, schools, parks and restaurants with outdoor seating and limit the crematory hours of operation.
On July 19, 2022, all 13 Miami Dade Commissioners voted in favor of an ordinance permitting the building of crematoria within 250 feet of a residential neighborhood. This vote was in support of allowing Bernardo Garcia Funeral Home to construct an incinerator onsite located on SW 117 Avenue near 120 Street within 467 feet of surrounding neighborhoods of children, parks, public schools, preschools, and restaurants with outdoor dining.
Scientific evidence shows crematoriums release numerous toxins and pollutants into the air. In 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a study Cremation NEMO 2017-EPA, that found “The cremation of human remains results in emissions of particulate matter SO2 (sulfur dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides), VOC (volatile organic compounds), CO (carbon monoxide) and HAPs (hazardous air pollutants). In particular, it is a significant source of mercury emissions due to mercury in dental fillings, as well as mercury in blood and tissues”. The EPA confirms that there are serious health effects from even low-level exposure to mercury including concerns for the brain, kidneys and lungs and have been linked to cancer. Susana Palomino, Division Chief of Air Quality Management, Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory Resources Management stated “5% opacity of visible emissions is permitted for 5 minutes, 15% is the maximum permitted.” Mercury exposed to the intense heat of the cremation process results in the volatilization of mercury and is emitted as a colorless, odorless gas into the atmosphere.
Data from the Texas Education Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows there was a significant increase in the rates of special education students and autism rates associated with increases in environmentally released mercury. On average, for each 1,000 lb of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43% increase in the rate of special education services and a 61% increase in the rate of autism.
Additionally, the building of this crematorium will result in declined quality of life as noxious fumes are emitted from the building, increased traffic and a decline in our property values. This crematorium will provide no economic benefit to the community and will be just another example of over-development in Kendall.
Please sign the petition to let Commissioners know that this proposal is not wanted and provides no positive benefits to our Kendall community. We are wanting to collect as many signatures as possible before the next vote on October 13th and will update here after this date.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16338635/
https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/EPAMercuryData
Crematorium Malfunction Investigation Video:
Petition Closed
The Issue
Legislative Item File Number 221575
Miami-Dade is proposing legislation to permit existing funeral homes to install a crematory as close as 250 feet from existing residences in unincorporated areas. The legislation does not consider the distance between a crematory and schools, parks, and restaurants with outdoor seating. The legislation also does not limit the crematory hours of operation.
Each of the undersigned represents that he or she is a resident of Miami-Dade County and opposes the above referenced legislation in its current form. We are concerned about the malfunction of these facilities resulting in unsightly and toxic smoke, ash, and other possible carcinogenic contaminants negatively affecting our environment, the air we breathe, our health, and that of our children, and nearby property values. Any such legislation should limit a crematory to no closer than 1 mile from existing residences, schools, parks and restaurants with outdoor seating and limit the crematory hours of operation.
On July 19, 2022, all 13 Miami Dade Commissioners voted in favor of an ordinance permitting the building of crematoria within 250 feet of a residential neighborhood. This vote was in support of allowing Bernardo Garcia Funeral Home to construct an incinerator onsite located on SW 117 Avenue near 120 Street within 467 feet of surrounding neighborhoods of children, parks, public schools, preschools, and restaurants with outdoor dining.
Scientific evidence shows crematoriums release numerous toxins and pollutants into the air. In 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a study Cremation NEMO 2017-EPA, that found “The cremation of human remains results in emissions of particulate matter SO2 (sulfur dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides), VOC (volatile organic compounds), CO (carbon monoxide) and HAPs (hazardous air pollutants). In particular, it is a significant source of mercury emissions due to mercury in dental fillings, as well as mercury in blood and tissues”. The EPA confirms that there are serious health effects from even low-level exposure to mercury including concerns for the brain, kidneys and lungs and have been linked to cancer. Susana Palomino, Division Chief of Air Quality Management, Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory Resources Management stated “5% opacity of visible emissions is permitted for 5 minutes, 15% is the maximum permitted.” Mercury exposed to the intense heat of the cremation process results in the volatilization of mercury and is emitted as a colorless, odorless gas into the atmosphere.
Data from the Texas Education Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency shows there was a significant increase in the rates of special education students and autism rates associated with increases in environmentally released mercury. On average, for each 1,000 lb of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43% increase in the rate of special education services and a 61% increase in the rate of autism.
Additionally, the building of this crematorium will result in declined quality of life as noxious fumes are emitted from the building, increased traffic and a decline in our property values. This crematorium will provide no economic benefit to the community and will be just another example of over-development in Kendall.
Please sign the petition to let Commissioners know that this proposal is not wanted and provides no positive benefits to our Kendall community. We are wanting to collect as many signatures as possible before the next vote on October 13th and will update here after this date.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16338635/
https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/EPAMercuryData
Crematorium Malfunction Investigation Video:
Petition Updates
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Petition created on September 29, 2022