[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34128-34129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13462]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13012; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
U.S. Forest Service, San Juan National Forest, Durango, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, San 
Juan National Forest has completed an inventory of human remains, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any 
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
should submit a written request to San Juan National Forest. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the San 
Juan National Forest at the address in this notice by July 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Julie Coleman, Heritage Program Manager, San Juan National 
Forest, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301, telephone (970) 385-1250, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under 
the control of the USDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest, 
Durango, CO. The human remains were removed from lands managed by the 
USDA Forest Service in La Plata County, CO.
    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 Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the USDA 
Forest Service and the National Park Service professional staff, along 
with a team of research consultants, in consultation with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, 
New Mexico; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of 
Santo Domingo); Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Ohkay 
Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of San Juan); 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Zia, New Mexico; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute 
Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray 
Reservation, Utah; Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, 
Colorado, New Mexico & Utah; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

History and description of the remains

    Prior to 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from an unknown site or sites in the Falls 
Creek cave area, north of Durango, in LaPlata County, CO. The human 
remains were included with collection materials from the Falls Creek 
Rock Shelters (site 5LP1434) and in the custody of the Mesa Verde 
National Park. In 2009, Mesa Verde National Park transferred these 
remains to the San Juan National Forest. Detailed assessment of the 
accompanying documentation and analysis of the human remains determined 
that these remains are not part of the collections from the Falls Creek 
Rock Shelters and that they were donated to Mesa Verde National Park in 
1962 from the Durango Public Library in Durango, CO. Provenience 
information is designated as the ``Falls Creek Cave Area.'' The remains 
include a complete skull of a young adult male, 20-34 years of age; a 
skull of an adult male, 35-49 years of age; and a skull of an adult 
male, 35-49 years of age. All three of the skulls exhibit some 
reconstruction and remnants of modifications made for purposes of 
display. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Analysis of the human remains by Mesa Verde National Park staff 
concluded that they were Ancestral Puebloan dating to the 
``Basketmaker'' period. A subsequent review and reassessment of all 
available documentation and the human remains concurs with the Mesa 
Verde National

[[Page 34129]]

Park analysis conclusion of an Ancestral Puebloan cultural affiliation, 
likely dating from between the Basketmaker III and Pueblo I time 
periods (A.D. 500-A.D. 900), which is consistent with prehistoric 
settlement and occupation of this geographic area.

Determinations made by the USDA Forest Service, San Juan National 
Forest

    Officials of the San Juan National Forest have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kewa Pueblo, New 
Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of Santo Domingo); Ohkay 
Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of San Juan); 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Zia, New Mexico; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas; and the Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Julie 
Coleman, Heritage Program Manager, San Juan National Forest, 15 Burnett 
Court, Durango, CO 81301, telephone (970) 385-1250, email 
[email protected], by July 8, 2013. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to The Tribes may proceed.
    The San Juan National Forest is responsible for notifying of the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kewa 
Pueblo, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of Santo Domingo); 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico 
(previously listed as the Pueblo of San Juan); Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Southern Ute 
Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian 
Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Utah; Ute Mountain Tribe of 
the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah; Ysleta del 
Sur Pueblo of Texas; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 6, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-13462 Filed 6-5-13; 8:45 am]
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