[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 236 (Friday, December 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30349]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Chugach 
National Forest, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), 
of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Chugach National 
Forest, Anchorage, AK, that meet the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary objects'' under Section 2 of the Act.
     This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43, CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
     The 16 objects are 1 bone harpoon point, 1 bone-toggling harpoon 
point, 1 stone end blade, 1 whetstone, 2 sea mammal bones, 9 glass 
beads, and 1 small piece of red ochre.
     In 1981, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cooperative 
Park Studies Unit archeologists conducted a survey of the Esther Bay 
site, a 14(h)(1) selection on the southern side of Esther Island, 
Prince William Sound, AK. Cultural items, along with human remains, 
were collected from two burial sites. The human remains from these 
sites were were reinterred at the original burial location in the 
spring of 1990. The cultural items are one bone harpoon point, one 
bone-toggling harpoon point, one stone end blade, one whetstone, and 
two sea mammal bones. Based on archeological evidence, the Esther Bay 
site is identified as a prehistoric Chugach Eskimo burial cave. Chugach 
National Forest is not in possession or control of the human remains 
from these burial sites.
     In 1933, Frederica de Laguna investigated the Campbell Bay site, 
located on the northwestern shore of Glacier Island, Prince William 
Sound, AK, and collected two sets of human remains from burials there. 
The human remains were curated at the National Museum of Denmark, 
Copenhagen, and were previously repatriated to the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation.
     In 1981, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cooperative 
Park Studies Unit archaeologists conducted a survey of the same site, a 
14(h)(1) selection, and located the area from which de Laguna had 
removed the human remains. No human remains were located during the 
1981 survey, but 10 cultural items were recovered from the burial site: 
7 blue and 2 white glass beads, along with 1 small piece of red ochre. 
Based on archeological evidence, the Campbell Bay site is identified as 
a postcontact, late 18th-century Chugach Eskimo burial cave. Chugach 
National Forest is not in possession or control of human remains from 
these burial sites.
     Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of Chugach 
National Forest have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2)(ii), these 16 cultural items are reasonably believed to have 
been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from specific 
burial sites of Native American individuals. Officials of Chugach 
National Forest also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can reasonably be 
traced between these unassociated funerary objects and the Native 
Village of Chenega and Native Village of Tatitlek, which are 
represented by Chugach Alaska Corporation.
     This notice has been sent to officials of the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation, Chenega Corporation, Native Village of Chenega, Tatitlek 
Corporation, Native Village of Tatitlek, English Bay Corporation, 
Native Villages of Nanwalek, Port Graham Corporation, Native Village of 
Port Graham, Eyak Corporation, and Native Village of Eyak. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Linda Finn Yarborough, Forest Archaeologist, Chugach National 
Forest, 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 
271-2511, facsimile (907) 271-2725, before January 7, 2002. 
Repatriation of these unassociated funerary objects to the Chugach 
Alaska Corporation may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: November 5, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-30349 Filed 12-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S