[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13497-13499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04849]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22959; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest, Hot Springs, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Ouachita 
National Forest, 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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects 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 
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the 
Ouachita National Forest. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Ouachita National Forest at the address 
in this notice by April 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Norman Wagoner, Forest Supervisor, U.S. Forest Service, 
Ouachita National Forest, P.O. Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71901, 
telephone (501) 321-5202, 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 Ouachita National 
Forest, Hot Springs, AR. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from McCurtain County, OK.
    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 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 Ouachita 
National Forest professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between March 1997 and April 2005, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 8 individuals were removed from sites 34Mc254, 34Mc665, 
34Mc762, and 34Mc898 in McCurtain County, OK. These human remains were 
removed during archeological excavations conducted on private land 
owned by the Weyerhauser Company. Under terms of a programmatic 
agreement with the Weyerhauser Company, the human remains and 
associated funerary objects are under the control of Ouachita National 
Forest. Dr. Terrance J. Martin, Curator and Chair of Anthropology, 
Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections Center, thoroughly 
examined the human remains, along with all associated excavation notes. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present. Based on the available information and evidence, the human 
remains from sites 34Mc254, 34Mc665, 34Mc762, and 34Mc898 are 
culturally affiliated with Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    Between March 1997 and April 2005, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 3 individuals were removed from sites 34Mc590 and 34Mc733 in 
McCurtain County, OK. These human remains were removed during 
archeological excavations conducted on private land owned by the 
Weyerhauser Company. Under terms of a programmatic agreement with the 
Weyerhauser Company, the human remains and associated funerary objects 
are under the control of the U.S. Forest Service, Ouachita National 
Forest. Dr. Terrance J. Martin, Curator and Chair of Anthropology, 
Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections Center, thoroughly 
examined the human remains, along with all associated excavation notes. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present. Based on archeological evidence, the human remains from 
sites 34Mc590 and 34Mc733 are culturally affiliated with The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma.
    Between March 1997 and April 2005, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 1 individual were removed from site 34Mc850 in McCurtain 
County, OK. These human remains were removed during archeological 
excavations conducted on private land owned by the Weyerhauser Company. 
Under terms of a programmatic agreement with the Weyerhauser Company, 
the human remains and associated funerary objects are under the control 
of Ouachita National Forest. Dr. Terrance J. Martin, Curator and Chair 
of Anthropology, Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections 
Center, thoroughly examined the human remains, along with all 
associated excavation notes. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present. Based on archeological 
evidence, the human remains from site 34Mc850 are culturally affiliated 
with Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by Ouachita National Forest

    Officials of Ouachita National Forest, have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of a minimum of 12 
individuals 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 associated funerary objects removed from 
sites 34Mc254, 34Mc665, 34Mc762, and 34Mc898 and Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma.
     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 associated funerary objects removed from 
sites 34Mc590 and 34Mc733 and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
     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 associated funerary objects removed from 
site 34Mc850 and Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma.

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 and associated 
funerary objects, should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Norman Wagoner, Forest Supervisor, U.S. 
Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest, P.O. Box 1270, Hot Springs, 
AR 71901, telephone (501) 321-5202, email [email protected], by April 
12, 2017.

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After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma 
may proceed.
    Ouachita National Forest is responsible for notifying Caddo Nation 
of Oklahoma and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: February 17, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-04849 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P