[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 76776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28002]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to 
repatriate cultural items in the possession of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK, 
that meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25 
U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in 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 in this notice.
    The cultural items are 10 adzed planks.
    In 1980, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA) and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Cooperative Park Studies Unit (CPSU) archeologists conducted a survey 
of Mummy Island I, a 14 (h)(1) selection in Prince William Sound, AK. 
Cultural items, along with human remains, were collected from five 
areas at the site. The cultural items are 10 adzed planks. The human 
remains were reinterred at the original location on October 9, 1990. 
Chugach National Forest does not have physical custody or control of 
human remains from the Mummy Island I site.
    On October 2, 1990, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Chugach National Forest archeologists conducted an intentional 
excavation at Mummy Island I in preparation for the reburial of the 
human skeletal remains that were collected by BIA/CPSU in 1980. 
Archeological evidence indicates that the Mummy Island I site is a 
prehistoric Chugach/Sugpiaq rockshelter.
    Officials of Chugach National Forest have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 10 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 
a specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of 
the Chugach National Forest also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and 
the Native Village of Chenega, which is represented by Chugach Alaska 
Corporation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Linda Yarborough, Forest Archeologist, Chugach National Forest, 
3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 
271[macr]2511, fax (907) 271[macr]2725, before January 21, 2005. 
Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation on behalf of the Native Village of Chenega may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Chugach National Forest is responsible for notifying Chugach 
Alaska Corporation, Chenega Corporation, Native Village of Chenega, 
Tatitlek Corporation, Native Village of Tatitlek, English Bay 
Corporation, Native Village of Nanwalek, Port Graham Corporation, 
Native Village of Port Graham, Eyak Corporation, and Native Village of 
Eyak that this notice has been published.
    Dated: November 4, 2004
    Sherry Hutt,
    Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 04-28002 Filed 12-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S