[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32983-32984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13414]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15673; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army 
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps), Walla Walla District 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 the Corps, Walla Walla District. 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 
Corps, Walla Walla District at the address in this notice by July 9, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: LTC Andrew D. Kelly, U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps 
of Engineers, Walla Walla District, 201 North Third Ave., Walla Walla, 
WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-7700.

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 in the 
possession of the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps), Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA. The human remains were 
removed from Benton County, WA.
    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 Corps 
and the University of Idaho (UI) professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation; Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation; Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously listed as the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); Nez Perce 
Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and the 
Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.

History and Description of the Remains

    On April 13, 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Indian Island by U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
employees during a migratory bird count. The human remains were turned 
over to the Corps Pasco Maintenance Office on October 22, 2013. To 
date, no archeological sites on Indian Island have been documented. 
Indian Island was surveyed between 1998 and 1999 by archeologists from 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and no 
archeological sites were recorded. Indian Island is located within the 
McNary Lock and Dam Project on the Columbia River, WA, which is managed 
by the Corps. The Corps initiated land acquisition processes for the 
McNary Lock and Dam Project in 1947, and Indian Island was acquired by 
the Corps from the Department of the Army on May 21, 1965. While the 
Corps did not own the parcel in question on the date of the collection 
of the human remains, as the parcel was owned by the Corps' parent 
agency, the Corps is proceeding with the repatriation of these remains.
    The human remains were examined in December 2013 by Don Tyler (UI) 
and were identified as Native American. Distinctive morphological 
traits indicate that the human remains, comprised of a partial cranium, 
are from an adult Native American female. The individual was described 
as young and healthy, and about 18 to 20 years of age at the time of 
death. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. The estimated date range of the human remains is 
A.D. 1800-1850.
    The relevant evidence supports a cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation; Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation; Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously listed as the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); and Nez Perce 
Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho). 
Additionally, a cultural relationship is determined to exist between 
the human remains and the Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group. Information provided during consultation demonstrates 
that the consulting tribes are descended from the Native people who 
occupied Indian Island, and that the individuals buried along the Snake 
River and mid-Columbia River are their ancestors. The aforementioned 
tribes are all part of the more broadly defined Plateau cultural 
community, and have shared past and present traditional lifeways that 
bind them to common ancestors.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of 
Engineers, Walla Walla District

    Officials of the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of 
Engineers, Walla Walla District, 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 the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously 
listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); 
and Nez

[[Page 32984]]

Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho). 
Additionally, a cultural relationship is determined to exist between 
the human remains and the Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group.

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 LTC 
Andrew D. Kelly, U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, 
Walla Walla District, 201 North Third Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362, 
telephone (509) 527-7700, by July 9, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation; Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation; Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously listed as the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); Nez Perce 
Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and, if 
joined to one or more of the culturally affiliated tribes, the Wanapum 
Band, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, may proceed.
    The Corps, Walla Walla District, is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes 
of Colville Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation (previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as 
the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and the Wanapum Band, a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 21, 2014.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-13414 Filed 6-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P