[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 46600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19271]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-18278; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP15.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Anthropology at 
Washington State University, Pullman, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 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 the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
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 the 
Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University at the address in 
this notice by September 4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Mary Collins, Director Emeritus, Museum of Anthropology 
Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, telephone (509) 
592-6929, 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 Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University Pullman, WA. The human remains were removed from near the 
mouth of Crab Creek in Grant 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 Museum 
of Anthropology at Washington State University professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands 
of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
and the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from near the mouth of Crab Creek in Grant County, WA. No 
information about why or how the human remains were collected has been 
located. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. The human remains consist of a single lot of sand, 
ash, charcoal, and fragmentary human remains and are believed to be the 
remnants of a cremation feature. The human remains were found in a box 
labeled with the date and location from which the human remains were 
removed and the names of two students who are presumed to have done the 
removal. Attempts to locate and communicate with the students were not 
successful. Although not the most common form of burial, cremation was 
practiced by a number of Native American groups along the Columbia 
River from very ancient to relatively recent times.

Determinations Made by the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University

    Officials of the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
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 the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 
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 Mary 
Collins, Director Emeritus, Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, telephone (509) 592-6929, email 
[email protected], by September 4, 2015. 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, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and, if 
joined to one or more of the culturally affiliated tribes, the Wanapum 
Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group, may proceed.
    The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the 
Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: May 11, 2015.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-19271 Filed 8-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P