Published: May 05, 2009 11:16 pm      

Crematorium hearing

DEP explains process; citizens speak against proposed crematorium

Several citizens attended a public meeting Tuesday evening in Beckley to speak out against a proposed crematory facility at Melton Mortuary on Sunrise Avenue, just off Harper Road, in Beckley.

“I’m not opposed to cremation,” said Dr. Vincent Beach, a Druid Avenue resident living above the proposed site for the new facility. “I myself may be cremated one day, but I don’t want my neighbors to be affected by my cremation.”

Beach, as well as several other people living above or around the proposed site, expressed concerns over the potentially dangerous particulate matter that would be emitted during the cremation process.

“No matter how fine the particulate matter is, I don’t want to breath it in and have it stay in my lungs for the rest of my life,” Beach said.

Originally, Melton Mortuary applied with the DEP to construct a Matthews Cremation Power Pak II human incinerator, rated at 150 pounds per hour, and a Matthews Cremation Power Pak Junior animal incinerator, rated at 75 pounds per hour.

However, the DEP determined the particulate matter emissions as proposed in the application for the human incinerator exceeded the allowable emission limits.

Mortuary owner H.E. Melton III, resubmitted the permit application because it was flawed and didn’t use specific emissions data from the manufacturer of the incinerators.

Last month, the Division of Air Quality issued a notice of intent to approve the application after placing some restrictions on when and how the incinerators are used.

“What has changed is that Melton’s has agreed to only operate one unit at any given time,” said Ed Andrews, a senior engineer for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality.

Andrews said to ensure public safety the temperature in the second chamber of the incinerators must be 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, there must be trained operators on site, no cremations between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., no cremations on weekends during the summer, which would be May 1 through Sept. 30, and the container types must be limited to wood or cardboard.

Andrews said these restrictions were due to the poor location of the proposed facility.

He added that the state would also conduct unannounced visible emissions checks.

“We also will rely on the public to make complaints if the facility appears to be non-compliant,” Andrews added.

Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh said the city’s zoning board granted a conditional use permit, while the city council issued a resolution against the proposed plan.

“The original zoning didn’t contemplate crematoriums,” he said.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals upheld the conditional use permit and a site plan was approved by the city’s Planning Commission, Pugh said.

“Those steps were met,” Pugh said. “The Council doesn’t have a say in that part. Some think the city council can just step in and say don’t do this, but they can’t do it. There are certain venues, like Circuit Court, to take this matter if someone is not satisfied with the decisions.”

Pugh said those opposing the proposed crematory facility have filed an action in Raleigh County Circuit Court.

“Depending on what happens that issue is still hanging out there,” he said.

Pugh said years ago, the former Keyser and Bryant Funeral Home at Johnstown Road and Klaus Street operated a crematorium near residential properties. As far as he knows, no one ever became sick because of the crematory.

Melton refused to comment, but said in a previous interview that the crematorium was a “substantial investment” and the decision to build it was not taken lightly. He said the reasons for building the crematorium, and in the location he chose, were that families are often concerned about their loved ones’ custodies during the cremation process. Therefore, he chose to have any cremations take place at the funeral home’s site.

Melton said this would allow any family members who wanted to participate in the cremation process — often because of religious beliefs — to be present. He also noted his location, for many years, has been zoned for business use.

DEP officials said the public comment period will end at 5 p.m. on Monday.

“We’ll review all public comments, respond to them and make a final decision to deny or approve the application,” Andrews said.