Crowell Brothers Seek to Set Record Straight on Proposed Crematory

Crowell Brothers Funeral Home has applied to the City of Peachtree Corners for a Special Use Permit for the installation of a state-of-the-art crematory retort within the existing funeral home.  This request came as a result of the wishes and desires of the families we serve within the area. 

Funerals are local by their very nature—from death to visitation, mourning, and the final ceremony.  No one who has lost a loved one wishes the deceased to be moved to various locations or different cities during final disposition.  Families are now selecting cremations at a rate of almost 40% in our geographic area.  Those families and friends come to our funeral home not only from our local area, but from all over the country to say goodbye.  They stay in our area hotels, eat at our restaurants, and mourn within the funeral home. 

Having all aspects of the funeral within one location is respectful to the deceased and to families in their time of tragedy. It is reassuring to families to know that their loved one receives the best of care all within one location under the direct watchful eye of their funeral director. We have waited until now for this request because it is evident that this is the desire of families.

As funeral directors in business for over fifty-five (55) years, we understand the concerns and fears people have in general about death, along with specific questions about the death care process.  We appreciate this opportunity to provide accurate information about this topic.

The 2012 Georgia Senate Georgia Crematoria Study Committee

During 2012, the Georgia Senate held public hearings at the State Capitol to investigate many of the same questions about crematories being discussed in Peachtree Corners.  Extensive evidence was provided to the Senate committee, including questions from citizens.  The Senate found that emissions were too small to pose a health or safety risk, but continued with several recommendations for the purpose of on-going public assurance.

• The 2012 Senate report ultimately determined “the amounts of these substances emitted by the cremation process may be too small to pose a health or safety risk, but it is nonetheless important for the public to be able to remain confident that their health and the health of their families are not being compromised as a result of nearby cremation operations.”
• To meet this goal, the Senate then made several recommendations to ensure that crematories were operating as intended.  These recommendations were immediately implemented by the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service/Secretary of State Professional Licensing Board which regulates crematories.  The following became effective January 1, 2013.
  • All licensed crematories are to be inspected annually.
  • There are four inspectors in the State who conduct crematory inspections, under the oversight of the Professional Licensing Board Division of the Secretary of State Office.  They are thoroughly trained on the proper examination of crematory equipment and operations, including training on warning signs of potential problems.  These inspectors do NOT work for the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service nor do they report as employees to that Board.
  • All crematory equipment will be registered with the state, including manufacturer, model, date of installation, date of most recent inspection, copy of the inspection report, and documentation of any necessary repairs.
  • Any less than satisfactory report must be reported to the Board within five days and repairs must be made immediately.  If repairs are not made within the time allowed by the Board (never to exceed 30 days) the board will suspend the license of the facility.
  • The funeral director in charge must be certified as a crematory operator from a course approved by the Board.

• One of the topics addressed within the public hearings was property value.  There was no credible evidence presented from anywhere in the country that gave credence to this concern.  In fact, one of the expert witnesses stated that his daughter has just purchased a $900,000 home located next door to a crematory.
• Crematories have been in operation in Georgia since the mid-1960s with no documented health concerns, property value concerns, or related issues.

Modern Retorts and Emissions

There is a large amount of misunderstanding about the words and data used relating to retorts and cremations.

• A retort is a modern, computer-controlled, technologically advanced piece of equipment designed specifically to eliminate any form of emission.  If temperature, emissions, or other parameters are not met, the crematory will shut itself down.
• Beginning in 1990, “afterchambers” in retorts significantly reduced ALL emissions.  Afterchambers hold any emissions for additional processing and filtration.  Those were not used in earlier equipment.
  • Publicly available information contains a large amount of outdated material and opinion.
  • As a result of that, Georgia funeral service commissioned a crematory emission study in September 2012 on a retort installed in Georgia to provide accurate, up-to-date information.  It showed the following:
    • .000118236 ounce mercury per cremation—almost too small to measure. 
    • All cremations in the entire state in a year amount to only .3 of an ounce.  
      • “.3 of an ounce is less than a cube of sugar.” 
    • Negligible amounts of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide. 
      • “Passenger cars, lawn mowers, and restaurants emit significantly more, constantly.” 
• It is very typical for funeral directors and their families to live either in the funeral home itself or on land adjoining the funeral home.  There is no evidence whatsoever that funeral directors, their families or their employees have any issues from working or living in proximity to cremations.

Georgia Law

The 2009 law regarding crematories had absolutely nothing to do with emissions and everything to do with a stand-alone crematory put in service in Snellville, Georgia. 

• That crematory was put in a row of “shot-gun” houses separated by approximately 15 to 20 feet on either side from the house next door.  Families were concerned because young children could see deceased being moved into the building from the hearses.  In contrast, all funeral homes, including those with crematories, already have the procedures in place to move deceased in a dignified and confidential manner.
• Funeral service did not support this type of installation used in Snellville and worked with the General Assembly to enact laws relating to the 1000-foot set-back for stand-alone crematories. 
• The 2009 law applies ONLY to stand-alone crematories not in existence as of July 1, 2009.  “Stand-alone” refers to crematories that are not within an existing funeral home or located contiguous to an existing funeral home. 
• Funeral service representatives worked directly with legislative counsel to draft the language. 
• The 1,000-foot set-back law does not apply to crematories that will be located within existing funeral establishments, as is the case with Crowell Brothers Funeral Home.

Conclusion

Please rest assured that our funeral home, and indeed all of funeral service in Georgia, is vitally concerned with the health and well-being of all citizens.  Crowell Brothers Funeral Home looks forward to working with the community and serving families in the safest, most technologically advanced way possible.

Thanking you in advance, 

Jeff Crowell and Alan Crowell 

of Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home

Editor's note: Crowell Brothers Funeral Home is located at 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, Ga. Established over 50 years ago, the family-owned business is the only funeral home located in the city and serves Peachtree Corners and surroundings communities.