Cremation at Parker Mortuary

1. Cremation at Parker Mortuary What are the facts?

2. Why do we want a crematory • Cremation has grown from .5% of our volume in 1983 to a current volume of 41% • We are paying out more to a 3rd Party crematory than it costs to finance our own • We need to provide our clientele what they desire

3. Problems with 3rd Party Operators • Abuses by some out-of-state crematories have been in the media • California – more than one body cremated in the same chamber at the same time • California & Texas -- Families receiving cremated remains proven not to be those of their loved one • Georgia – Disreputable operator failed to cremate more than 130 bodies • Returned to the funeral homes a box of chat, rather than cremains • Bodies were found in and around an adjoining lake on his property

5. N.F.D.A. issued a warning • As a result of abuses, The National Funeral Directors Association has publicly warned funeral homes • To exercise “due diligence” in dealing with 3rd Party crematories • Due to unprofessional conduct and liability • Include unannounced inspections with documentation

6. Parker Mortuary’s Preference • To personally supervise every step of the cremation process • To assure our families that everything is done in a trustworthy, respectful and proper manner

7. Why must our crematorybe on-site? • We already have a 45’ x 100’ substantially constructed warehouse • Our casket supplier opened a Mt. Vernon warehouse • We no longer inventory caskets in the warehouse

15. Why on-site? • Our warehouse shelters (4) funeral vehicles, yard equipment and office supplies • 2/3 of our existing warehouse is already vacant allowing more than sufficient space for • The crematory unit and supplies • A new 12’x12’x7’ refrigeration facility

16. How does an on-site crematory benefit our families and the community? • Each cremation can be monitored by our own staff through every step of the process • We have staff on-site 24/7 for security against foul play • Our 12’x12’ refrigeration facility will protect public health • Allows families time to make decisions about • Viewing • Cremation • Immediate burial

17. Some families preferbeing present at a cremation • Either for religious reasons • For peace of mind knowing their loved one is cared for properly • A feeling that they want to go every step of the way with their loved one (similar to a family choosing to stay for a grave closing) • Admittedly a rare occurrence • Requested by perhaps 12 of our past families • However those families do deserve our best

18. Families Present(continued) • We can accommodate such requests more easily and suitably on-site. • Sending them to an industrial park surrounded by manufacturing plants and commercial warehouses on a gravel road is not our best • Locating a crematory in a rural county area • Gives the impression cremation is wrong or unhealthy • This isn’t the case. Cremation is a very clean and sanitary process.

19. Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory 5005 Frederick BlvdSaint Joseph, MO 64506 • The crematory has an attractively decorated and comfortably integrated family viewing area, where family members may witness as well as participate in the cremation process. • Family members may participate by actuating the cremation process from controls located in the viewing room.  This option is particularly important for persons of certain faiths. Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory has and always will strive to accommodate the needs of all faiths as their customs dictate.

20. Why on-site?-Utilities- • It took 3 ½ weeks for us to determine MO Gas Energy could provide sufficient flow and pressure even at 15th & Joplin • The more rural a location, the more unlikely sufficient supply could be provided

21. Why on-site (continued) • We would have the added expense of purchasing land • Erect or purchase a substantial building • To protect the loved ones, in whom we have been entrusted, against foul play • To protect our substantial investment in equipment against criminal break-in and storms

22. Why on-site (continued) • We would have to transport each individual to the location • Significant inconvenience and expense • Increases possibility of contagious exposure • We would have to commit significant man-hours to oversee the process and could never do our job of security and protection justice

23. Where are crematoriesnormally located? • In the 4 states of Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas • There are 82 operating crematories • 82% (67) are inside incorporated city limits • 16% (13) are in unincorporated township limits • And 2 operate inside the Mark Twain National Forest

24. Where are crematories? • 84% (69) are located within 500 ft. of a residence, some within 50 ft. • Many funeral homes and cemeteries locate their crematories inside their main public building • Of 35 Missouri crematories alone, 63% (22) had them in their main building • Several others just across the street • 3 had 2 operating cremation units and 2 others had 3 units operating

25. Ozark Memorial

26. Chappel Crematory

27. On-Site (continued) • If any part of the process caused odor or a public health hazard • Why would they place them in their main building where people • Conduct funeral arrangements • Attend viewings or visitations • Attend services • Further, why in the world would Parker Mortuary do that? We would not.

28. Community Benefit? • Control contagious disease (with which we frequently deal) • Each time someone with contagion is moved • Risk is increased • This is why our new refrigeration unit will be in the same on-site building

29. Community Benefit • M.F.D.A. Disaster Preparedness • 2 of our staff have participated in training • Equipment and personnel are inventoried by the team statewide • Teams have attended the Hyatt collapse in K.C., Hardin Cemetery Flood and Katrina • A temporary morgue site • Is one of the 1st steps in a multiple-death disaster

30. Disaster Preparedness • Our warehouse would be a perfect temporary morgue site • Including crematory • Refrigeration • Family and media interviews could be accommodated in our main facility

31. Supply and Demand • Any time free trade is restricted, prices increase • It will be left to 2 existing crematories to keep up with increasing demand • Joplin families would be the ultimate looser • Forced to pay possibly higher prices • Without benefit of competition holding prices in check

32. Who regulates crematories? • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Missouri Department of Natural Resources • Missouri State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers Board of Embalmers & Funeral Directors3605 Missouri BoulevardP.O. Box 423Jefferson City, MO  65102-0423

33. U.S. - E.P.A. • Mandated in the Clean Air Act the E.P.A. conducted extensive testing • At a Bronx, NY crematory in 1999 • To determine if crematories merited further regulation and inclusion under their category of “other solid waste incinerators”

34. E.P.A. • Tested for • Visible emissions • Particulate matter • Carbon Monoxide • Nitrogen Oxides • Sulfur Dioxide • Dioxins and Furans • At 3 operating temperatures

35. E.P.A. Test Results

36. Visible Emissions • Averaged 1.91% for the highest 6-Min. Opacity • EPA Rule for Limiting Visible Emissions (40 Code of Regulations Part 49 Section 124) is 20% • In independent tests, our Therm-Tec unit operated at: 0

39. Particulate Matter • Averaged .08 Lb. per Hour • Which equates to 1.6 Lbs. per ton • (Parker Mortuary would have to operate our crematory for 1 year and 8 months to produce 1 ton) • The E.P.A. Limit for Other Solid Waste Incinerators is 4.7 Lbs. per ton

40. Particulate Matter • A typical high-volume crematory emits less than ½ as many particulates as • A Fast Food Restaurant • A residential fireplace produces 6 times more particulates than that of a high-volume crematory • High-volume is 260 - 8-Hr. Days per year or 1300 cases per year • Parker Mortuary will produce 204 cases per year operating at 15.7% the amount of high-volume

41. Carbon Monoxide • Averaged 1.6 Parts per million @ 7% oxygen • The typical state limit is 100 Parts per million

42. Fireplace • A residential fireplace emits 58 times more carbon monoxide

43. Diesel Trucks • A diesel truck emits 366 times more carbon monoxide • (by the way…this is an E.P.A. photo)

44. Nitrogen Oxide • Averaged .39 Lb per Hour • A restaurant grill averages .48 Lb per hour

45. Sulfur Dioxide • Averaged .07 Lb. per hour • Which equates to 1.4 Lb. per Ton • The EPA regulation on OSWI is 2.5 Lb. per Ton

46. Dioxins and Furans • Averaged 110.5 Nanograms per Minute • Low compared to OSWI • The measurement unit (nanogram) is one-billionth of a gram • The E.P.A. says exposure also comes from • Burning household trash, a fireplace • And even Forest Fires

47. Results were based on constant operation • The average crematory operates 3 hours per day • At current volume, Parker Mortuary’s crematory will operate at an average of 1 hour per day

48. E.P.A.’s response • Immediately after the test, crematories were dropped from “low priority” to “very low priority” • Testing proved that crematories operate so far below allowable limits for commercial/industrial incinerators, they require no further regulations

49. E.P.A. Final Rule • On December 16, 2005, E.P.A. entered its final rule into the Federal Register, 40 CFR Vol. 70 No. 241 Page 74881 Rules and Regulations: “Human crematories are not solid waste combustion units and are not a subcategory of OSWI for regulation” • The tests proved that even if included as OSWI, crematories already far exceed the requirements imposed on higher-volume commercial/industrial/municipal units

50. A Typical “Other Solid Waste Incinerator” regulated by E.P.A.