[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3804-3805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00511]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0022622; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, 
Defense Health Agency, National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine has completed an inventory of 
human remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to the National Museum of Health and 
Medicine. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control 
of the human remains 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine at the address in this notice by February 
13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Brian F. Spatola, Curator of Anatomical Division, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine, U.S. Army Garrison Forest Glen, 
2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone (301) 319-3353, 
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 National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD. The human remains were removed from Marion County, TN, and 
Limestone County, AL.
    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. 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 National 
Museum of Health and Medicine professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1914, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Bennett Place (site 40M17) in Marion County, TN. Age 
and sex could not be identified. Artifacts were present at the time of 
excavation, but were not retained with the human remains. The human 
remains were donated to the Army Medical Museum (today the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine) by Clarence B. Moore in December of 
1914. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a site at the confluence of the Sequatchie 
and Tennessee Rivers in Marion County, TN. The human remains consist of 
the cranium and mandible of an adult female. The human remains were 
purchased by the Army Medical Museum (National Museum of Health and 
Medicine) from C.H. Ward Company, Rochester, NY, in 1915. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1915, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Dwelling site at the mouth of the Sequatchie 
Creek (40M12) in Marion County, TN. The human remains consist of an 
adult left humerus. The human remains were donated to the Army Medical 
Museum (National Museum of Health and Medicine) by Clarence B. Moore in 
May of 1915. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1915, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Dwelling site on Mason Island (1La92) in 
Limestone County, AL. The human remains consist of the left femur and 
right tibia of an adult male. The human remains were donated to the 
Army Medical Museum (National Museum of Health and Medicine) by 
Clarence B. Moore in May of 1915. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the National Museum of Health and Medicine

    Officials of the National Museum of Health and Medicine have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on: Osteological evidence, 
collection history, artifacts, and association with prehistoric 
archeological sites.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the

[[Page 3805]]

Native American human remains 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 were removed is the aboriginal land of 
the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw 
Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma.

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 should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Mr. Brian F. Spatola, Curator of 
Anatomical Division, National Museum of Health and Medicine, U.S. Army 
Garrison Forest Glen, 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
telephone (301) 319-3353, email [email protected], by 
February 13, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Cherokee 
Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, and 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    The National Museum of Health and Medicine is responsible for 
notifying the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The 
Chickasaw Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-00511 Filed 1-11-17; 8:45 am]
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