[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72827-72829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25541]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22033; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP16.R50000]


Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee; Meetings

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Meeting notice.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), of two meetings of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review 
Committee). All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: The Review Committee will meet on March 15-16, 2017, from 8:30 
a.m. until 5 p.m. (Mountain); and July 11, 2017, from 2 p.m. until 
approximately 6 p.m. (Eastern). Related deadlines for participating in 
each meeting are detailed in this notice.

ADDRESSES: The Review Committee will meet on March 15-16, 2017, at 
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203. Electronic 
submissions of materials or requests are to be sent to 
[email protected]. Those who desire to attend the telephonic meeting 
should register at http://www.nps.gov/nagpra to be provided the 
telephone access number for the meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Review Committee was established in 
Section 8 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 
of 1990 (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3006.

March 15-16, 2017

    The Review Committee will meet on March 15-16, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. (Mountain), at History Colorado, Denver, CO. This meeting 
will be open to the public. The agenda for this meeting will include a 
report from the National NAGPRA Program; the discussion of the Review 
Committee Report to Congress for 2017; subcommittee reports and 
discussion; and other topics related to the Review Committee's 
responsibilities under Section 8 of NAGPRA. In addition, the agenda may 
include requests to the Review Committee for a recommendation to the 
Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native 
American human remains determined to be culturally unidentifiable 
proceed; presentations by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, 
museums, Federal

[[Page 72828]]

agencies, associations, and individuals; public comment; requests to 
the Review Committee, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3006(c)(3), for review and 
findings of fact related to the identity or cultural affiliation of 
human remains or other cultural items, or the return of such items; and 
facilitation of the resolution of disputes among parties convened by 
the Review Committee pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3006(c)(4). Presentation to 
the Review Committee by telephone may be requested but is not 
guaranteed. The agenda and materials for this meeting will be posted on 
or before February 15, 2017, at http://www.nps.gov/nagpra.
    The Review Committee is soliciting presentations from Indian 
tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, and Federal agencies on 
the following two topics: (1) The progress made, and any barriers 
encountered, in implementing NAGPRA and (2) the outcomes of disputes 
reviewed by the Review Committee pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3006(c)(4). The 
Review Committee also will consider other presentations from Indian 
tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, 
associations, and individuals. A presentation request must, at minimum, 
include an abstract of the presentation and contact information for the 
presenter(s). Presentation requests and materials must be received by 
February 1, 2017. Written comments will be accepted from any party and 
provided to the Review Committee. Written comments received by February 
8, 2017, will be provided to the Review Committee before the meeting.
    The Review Committee will consider requests for a recommendation to 
the Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native 
American human remains determined to be culturally unidentifiable (CUI) 
proceed. A CUI disposition request must include the appropriate, 
completed form posted on the National NAGPRA Program Web site and, as 
applicable, the ancillary materials noted on the form. To access and 
download the appropriate form--either the form for CUI with a ``tribal 
land'' or ``aboriginal land'' provenience or the form for CUI without a 
``tribal land'' or ``aboriginal land'' provenience--go to http://www.nps.gov/nagpra, and then click on ``Request for CUI Disposition 
Forms.'' CUI disposition requests must be received by January 4, 2017.
    The Review Committee will consider requests, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3006(c)(3), for review and findings of fact related to the identity or 
cultural affiliation of human remains or other cultural items, or the 
return of such items, where consensus among affected parties is unclear 
or uncertain. A request for findings of fact must be accompanied by a 
statement of the fact(s) at issue and supporting materials, including 
those exchanged by the parties to consultation concerning the Native 
American human remains and/or other cultural items. To access 
procedures for presenting findings of fact, go to http://www.nps.gov/nagpra/REVIEW/Procedures.htm. Requests for findings of fact must be 
received by November 18, 2016.
    The Review Committee will consider requests, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3006(c)(4), to convene parties and facilitate the resolution of a 
dispute, where consensus clearly has not been reached among affected 
parties regarding the identity or cultural affiliation of human remains 
or other cultural items, or the return of such items. A request to 
convene parties and facilitate the resolution of a dispute must be 
accompanied by a statement of the decision of the museum or Federal 
agency subject to the dispute resolution request, a statement of the 
issue, and the materials exchanged by the parties concerning the Native 
American human remains and/or other cultural items. To access 
procedures for presenting disputes, go to http://www.nps.gov/nagpra/REVIEW/Procedures.htm. Requests to convene parties and facilitate 
resolution of a dispute must be received by November 18, 2016.
    Submissions and requests should be sent to [email protected]. 
Such items are subject to posting on the National NAGPRA Program Web 
site prior to the meeting.

July 11, 2017

    The Review Committee will meet via teleconference on July 11, 2017, 
from 2 p.m. until approximately 6 p.m. (Eastern). This meeting will be 
open to the public. The agenda for this meeting will include a report 
from the National NAGPRA Program; the discussion of the Review 
Committee Report to Congress for 2017; subcommittee reports and 
discussion; and other topics related to the Review Committee's 
responsibilities under Section 8 of NAGPRA. In addition, the agenda may 
include requests to the Review Committee for a recommendation to the 
Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native 
American human remains determined to be culturally unidentifiable 
proceed; presentations by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, 
museums, Federal agencies, associations, and individuals; and public 
comment. The agenda and materials for this meeting will be posted on or 
before June 13, 2017, at http://www.nps.gov/nagpra.
    The Review Committee is soliciting presentations from Indian 
tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, and Federal agencies on 
the following two topics: (1) The progress made, and any barriers 
encountered, in implementing NAGPRA and (2) the outcomes of disputes 
reviewed by the Review Committee pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3006(c)(4). The 
Review Committee also will consider other presentations from Indian 
tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, 
associations, and individuals. A presentation request must, at minimum, 
include an abstract of the presentation and contact information for the 
presenter(s). Presentation requests and materials must be received by 
May 30, 2017. Written comments will be accepted from any party and 
provided to the Review Committee. Written comments received by June 6, 
2017, will be provided to the Review Committee before the meeting.
    The Review Committee will consider requests for a recommendation to 
the Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native 
American human remains determined to be CUI proceed. A CUI disposition 
request must include the appropriate, completed form posted on the 
National NAGPRA Program Web site and, as applicable, the ancillary 
materials noted on the form. To access and download the appropriate 
form--either the form for CUI with a ``tribal land'' or ``aboriginal 
land'' provenience or the form for CUI without a ``tribal land'' or 
``aboriginal land'' provenience--go to http://www.nps.gov/nagpra, and 
then click on ``Request for CUI Disposition Forms.'' CUI disposition 
requests must be received by May 2, 2017.
    Submissions and requests should be sent to [email protected]. 
Such items are subject to posting on the National NAGPRA Program Web 
site prior to the meeting. Those who desire to attend the meeting 
should register at http://www.nps.gov/nagpra to be provided the 
telephone access number for the meeting.

General Information

    Information about NAGPRA, the Review Committee, and Review 
Committee meetings is available on the National NAGPRA Program Web site 
at http://www.nps.gov/nagpra. Approximately fourteen weeks after each 
Review Committee meeting, the meeting transcript is posted on the 
National NAGPRA Program Web site.
    Review Committee members are appointed by the Secretary of the

[[Page 72829]]

Interior. The Review Committee is responsible for monitoring the NAGPRA 
inventory and identification process; reviewing and making findings 
related to the identity or cultural affiliation of cultural items, or 
the return of such items; facilitating the resolution of disputes; 
compiling an inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains that 
are in the possession or control of each Federal agency and museum, and 
recommending specific actions for developing a process for disposition 
of such human remains; consulting with Indian tribes and Native 
Hawaiian organizations and museums on matters affecting such tribes or 
organizations lying within the scope of work of the Review Committee; 
consulting with the Secretary of the Interior on the development of 
regulations to carry out NAGPRA; and making recommendations regarding 
future care of repatriated cultural items. The Review Committee's work 
is carried out during the course of meetings that are open to the 
public.
    Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your submission, you should 
be aware that your entire submission--including your personal 
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you may ask us to withhold your personal identifying information 
from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Alma Ripps,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-25541 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P