[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59175-59176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25024]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

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


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Big Bend National Park, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Big Bend National Park has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request to Big Bend National 
Park. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to Big Bend National Park at the address in this notice by 
November 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Cindy Ott-Jones, Superintendent, Big Bend National Park, 
P.O. Box 129, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834, telephone (432) 477-
1101, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Big Bend National Park, TX. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Big 
Bend National Park, Brewster County, TX.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). The determinations in this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the Superintendent, Big Bend National Park.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Big Bend 
National Park professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New 
Mexico; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; 
and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo (previously listed as the Ysleta Del Sur 
Pueblo of Texas) (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').
    The following tribes were invited to consult but did not 
participate: Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation of

[[Page 59176]]

Montana; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation, 
New Mexico; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain 
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Invited Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Prior to 1944, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from an unknown site in Brewster County, TX, 
by unknown individuals. The remains were donated to Big Bend National 
Park in 1947 by Mrs. Elmo Johnson. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1966-67, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 41BS360 in Brewster County, TX, during a survey 
by the University of Texas. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Black Willow site in Brewster County, TX, during 
legally authorized excavations. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In May 1990, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Rough Run site in Brewster County, TX, during 
legally authorized excavations. No known individuals were identified. 
The 75 associated funerary objects are 72 projectile points and 
projectile point fragments, 2 utilized flakes, and 1 chipped stone.

Determinations Made by Big Bend National Park

    Officials of Big Bend National Park have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on osteological analysis and 
archeological context.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of seven individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 75 objects described 
in this notice 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. The National Park Service intends to convey the 
associated funerary objects to the tribes pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 
102503(g) through (i) and 54 U.S.C 102504.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Jicarilla 
Apache Nation, New Mexico; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero 
Reservation, New Mexico; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos 
Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; and White Mountain 
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona.
     Other credible lines of evidence, including relevant and 
authoritative governmental determinations and information gathered 
during government-to-government consultation from subject matter 
experts, indicate that the land from which the Native American human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal 
land of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe 
of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Shoshone Tribe of the Wind 
River Reservation, Wyoming; Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo 
(previously listed as the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas).
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Absentee-
Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of 
Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; 
Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero 
Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; San Carlos 
Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Shoshone Tribe of 
the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; 
White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; 
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma; and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo (previously listed as the Ysleta 
Del Sur Pueblo of Texas).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Cindy 
Ott-Jones, Superintendent, Big Bend National Park, P.O. Box 129, Big 
Bend National Park, TX 79834, telephone (432) 477-1101, email 
[email protected], by November 2, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Absentee-Shawnee 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache 
Nation, New Mexico; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe 
of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San 
Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain 
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and 
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo (previously listed as the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo 
of Texas) may proceed.
    Big Bend National Park is responsible for notifying The Consulted 
Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this notice has been published.

     Dated: August 25, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-25024 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P