[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18033-18034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8575]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee Nomination Solicitation

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee: Notice of Nomination Solicitation

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is soliciting nominations for a 
traditional Native American religious leader to serve as a member of 
the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee. In accordance with the provisions of the Native American 
Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3000-
3016, only nominations from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and traditional religious leaders will be considered in 
appointing this member.

DATES: Interested Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and 
traditional Native American religious leaders are invited to nominate 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the Secretary's 
consideration in appointing one member to the review committee. 
Nominations should include all information as specified under 
Supplementary Information. All

[[Page 18034]]

nominations must be received by close of business on May 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent (1) by mail to the Manager, 
National NAGPRA Program, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW-350NC, 
Washington, DC 20240; or (2) by commercial delivery address to the 
Manager, National NAGPRA Program, National Park Service, 800 North 
Capitol Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20001.
    Increased security in the Washington, DC, area may cause delays in 
the delivery of U.S. Mail to Government offices. In addition to mail or 
commercial delivery, please also fax a copy of the mailed nomination to 
Manager, National NAGPRA Program, at (202) 343-5260, to ensure timely 
review. Nominations sent to addressees or addresses other than those 
listed above or nominations sent by mail without a follow-up fax 
transmission may not reach the National NAGPRA Program in time for 
consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert Stearns, Manager, National 
NAGPRA Program, 1849 C Street NW-350NC, Washington, DC 20240, telephone 
(202) 343-5266. A copy of the charter for this review committee is 
available upon request or at the National NAGPRA Program website, 
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nagpra/ (click on ``Review Committee,'' then 
click on ``Procedures'').

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each nomination should contain the name, 
home and business addresses and telephone numbers, and a brief 
biography of the traditional Native American religious leader 
recommended for appointment. The nomination should also contain the 
following:
    (a) Nominations submitted by an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization must be signed by the leader of the tribe or organization, 
and must include the leader's name, title, address, and daytime 
telephone number.
    In accordance with NAGPRA's regulations, a tribe's or 
organization's leader is ``the principal leader of an Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization or the individual officially designated by 
the governing body of an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
or as otherwise provided by tribal code, policy, or established 
procedure as responsible for matters relating to these regulations'' 
(43 C.F.R. 10.2 (b)(4)).
    Indian tribe means ``any tribe, band, nation, or other organized 
Indian group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native 
village or corporation as defined in or established by the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is 
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians'' 
(43 U.S.C. 10.2 (b)(2)).
    Native Hawaiian organization means ``any organization that: (A) 
Serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians; (B) Has as a 
primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native 
Hawaiians; and (C) Has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs'' (43 
U.S.C. 10.2 (b)(3)(i)).
     (b) Nominations submitted by traditional religious leaders should 
identify the nominator as a traditional religious leader and include 
his/her title, business and home address, and a daytime telephone 
number.
    In accordance with NAGPRA's regulations, a traditional religious 
leader is ``a person who is recognized by members of an Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization as: (i) Being responsible for performing 
cultural duties relating to the ceremonial or religious traditions of 
that Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, or (ii) Exercising a 
leadership role in an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
based on the tribe or organization's cultural, ceremonial, or religious 
practices'' (43 C.F.R. 10.2 (d)(3)).
     Nominations from other individual tribal members cannot be 
considered.
    The review committee's duties include monitoring the implementation 
of the statute, facilitating the resolution of disputes, consulting 
with the Secretary of the Interior in the development of regulations, 
and reporting to Congress on the status of implementation (25 U.S.C. 
3006). As stipulated by 25 U.S.C. 3006 (b), the review committee is 
composed of seven members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior as 
follows:
    (a) Three members appointed from nominations by Indian tribes, 
Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional religious leaders, with 
at least two such persons being traditional religious leaders;
    (b) Three members appointed from nominations submitted by national 
museum organizations and scientific organizations; and
    (c) One member appointed from a list of persons developed and 
consented to by all of the other members.
    The Secretary may not appoint Federal officers or employees to the 
Committee.

    Dated: February 28, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-8575 Filed 4-11-02; 8:45 am]
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