[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41992-41994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15242]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21088; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: State Center Community College 
District, Fresno, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The State Center Community College District has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in

[[Page 41993]]

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 the State Center Community College District. 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 the State Center Community College District at the 
address in this notice by July 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Cynthia E. Azari, Ed.D., President, Fresno City College, 
State Center Community College District, 1101 East University Avenue, 
Fresno, CA 93741, telephone (559) 442-4600, 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 State Center 
Community College District, Fresno, CA. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Fresno and Merced 
Counties, CA.
    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 museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects. 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 State 
Center Community College District professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians 
of California (previously listed as the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono 
Indians of California); California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; 
Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Paiute-Shoshone 
Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Picayune Rancheria 
of Chukchansi Indians of California; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the 
Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok 
Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule 
River Reservation, California; Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker 
River Reservation, Nevada; Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington 
Colony and Campbell Ranch, Nevada; and the Dunlap Band of Mono Indians 
and Traditional Choinumni Tribe (a non-federally recognized Indian 
group), hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes.''
    Documentation that accompanied an invitation to consult was also 
provided to the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Cold Springs 
Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Fort McDermitt Paiute and 
Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and 
Oregon; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Band of Miwuk 
Indians (previously listed as the Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians 
of California); Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; 
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada; Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians, 
California (previously listed as the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla 
Mission Indians of the Santa Rosa Reservation); Te-Moak Tribe of 
Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada (Four constituent bands: Battle 
Mountain Band; Elko Band; South Fork Band; and Wells Band); Tuolumne 
Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California; all of 
whom did not engage with the SCCCD in consultation. The invitation and 
documentation was also provided to the Wukchumni Tribe (a non-federally 
recognized Indian group), hereafter referred to as ``The Invited 
Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    Between the 1940s and 1970s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from Squaw Valley, Fresno County, 
CA. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Between the 1940s and 1970s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from El Nido, on the San Joaquin 
River, Merced County, CA. No known individuals were identified. The one 
associated funerary object is 1 lot of dirt.
    Between the 1940s and 1970s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 16 individuals were removed from Fresno or Merced County, CA. 
No known individuals were identified. The seven associated funerary 
objects are 1 small rock, 1 lot of unidentifiable non-bone materials, 3 
lots of dirt, 1 seed fragment, and 1 unidentifiable non-bone object.
    According to Mr. Ron Gerstenberg, former natural resources teacher 
at Reedley College, the human remains were collected by Robert Merz, 
who taught anthropology at Reedley College. Mr. Merz was active from 
the 1940s until he retired in the 1970s and has since passed. Before he 
retired, Mr. Merz gave the remains to Mr. Gerstenberg for safekeeping 
at Reedley College.
    In September 2011, Reedley College staff sent the collection to the 
State Center Community College District Police Department (SCCCDPD). 
Ms. Miller and Dr. Jill Minar, archeology instructor at Fresno City 
College, examined the human remains and cultural items at the SCCCDPD 
and after preliminary examination, it was determined the human remains 
were likely Native American.
    Ms. Miller contacted the Fresno County Coroner, David Hadden, and 
arranged for Dr. Roger La Jeunesse, Biological Anthropologist/Professor 
at California State University Fresno, to examine the human remains and 
provide a report as to the contents of the boxes. After examination the 
human remains were returned to Fresno City College Archaeological 
Curation Facility where they are currently housed.

Determinations Made by the State Center Community College District

    Officials of the State Center Community College District have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on a biological analysis of 
the complete crania, dental wear on the teeth, and the presence of soil 
still adhering to some of the remains, as well as the contents of notes 
found in association with the remains and Mr. Merz area of interest.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 18 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.

[[Page 41994]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the eight 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.
     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.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono 
Indians of California (previously listed as the Big Sandy Rancheria of 
Mono Indians of California); Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes 
of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Paiute-
Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Pyramid 
Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Reno-Sparks 
Indian Colony, Nevada; Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River 
Reservation, Nevada; and Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony 
and Campbell Ranch, Nevada.
     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 
Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California 
Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk 
Indians of California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of 
California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria 
of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians 
of California; Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; 
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria; Shingle Springs Band of 
Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the 
Tule River Reservation; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to Big Sandy 
Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California (previously listed as 
the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California); Buena Vista 
Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok 
Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Fort 
McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian 
Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of 
California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; Northfork Rancheria 
of Mono Indians of California; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon 
Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi 
Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, 
Nevada; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada; Shingle Springs Band of 
Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the 
Tule River Reservation; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California; Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River 
Reservation, Nevada; and the Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington 
Colony and Campbell Ranch, Nevada. To date, the Picayune Rancheria of 
Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and Tule 
River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, have requested 
disposition jointly.

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 Cynthia 
E. Azari, Ed.D., Interim President, Fresno City College, State Center 
Community College District, 1101 East University Avenue, Fresno, CA 
93741, telephone (559) 442-4600, email 
[email protected], by July 28, 2016. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to Big Sandy 
Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California (previously listed as 
the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California); Buena Vista 
Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok 
Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 
California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Fort 
McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian 
Reservation, Nevada and Oregon; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of 
California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; Northfork Rancheria 
of Mono Indians of California; Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon 
Reservation and Colony, Nevada; Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi 
Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, 
Nevada; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada; Shingle Springs Band of 
Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the 
Tule River Reservation; Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne 
Rancheria of California; Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River 
Reservation, Nevada; and the Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington 
Colony and Campbell Ranch, Nevada may proceed. To date, the Picayune 
Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria; Table Mountain Rancheria of 
California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, 
have requested disposition jointly.
    The State Center Community College District is responsible for 
notifying The Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: May 13, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-15242 Filed 6-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P