[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 21804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08800]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15175; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas A&M University, College 
Station, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Texas A&M University 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 Texas A&M University. 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 Texas A&M 
University at the address in this notice by May 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M 
University, College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242.

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 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The human 
remains were removed from the Tajiguas Cliffs, Santa Barbara County, 
CA. 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 Texas A&M 
University (TAMU) professional staff in 1995, and the remains were 
determined to be ancestral to the Chumash Indians. In 2010, 
representatives of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of 
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California, were invited to consult with 
TAMU for the purpose of determining the place and manner of the 
repatriation, but no representatives contacted TAMU or visited the 
remains in response to this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime prior to 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Tajiguas Cliffs in Santa Barbara 
County, CA, by a private individual, and were donated to TAMU in 1987. 
The human remains were determined to be one adult of indeterminate sex 
(TAMU-NAGPRA 72). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Based on the geographic location and the 
accompanying note describing funerary objects (not included in 
donation), TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity 
from this site to the Chumash Indians.

Determinations Made by Texas A&M University

    Officials of Texas A&M University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual 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 and associated funerary objects and the Santa 
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California.

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 Dr. 
Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 
College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242, by May 19, 
2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Santa Ynez Band of 
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California, may 
proceed.
    Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Santa Ynez 
Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 4, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08800 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
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