[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46042-46043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18867]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028630; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Russell Cave National Monument, Bridgeport, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Russell Cave National Monument 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 Russell 
Cave National Monument. 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 Russell Cave National Monument at the address in this 
notice by October 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Stephen Black, Superintendent, Russell Cave National 
Monument, 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL 35740, telephone (256) 
495-2672, 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, Russell Cave National Monument, 
Bridgeport, AL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Russell Cave, Jackson 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 Superintendent, Russell Cave National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Russell Cave 
National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern 
Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed 
as the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations)); Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; 
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the 
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. The Cherokee 
Nation was invited to consult, but did not participate.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals 
were removed from the Russell Cave site in Jackson County, AL, during 
an archeological excavation by the National Park Service in preparation 
for an interpretive exhibit within the cave. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a projectile point.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National 
Park Service, Russell Cave National Monument

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service, Russell Cave National Monument 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice is 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 object 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.
     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 the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians; and the 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 and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Cherokee 
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the

[[Page 46043]]

request to Stephen Black, Superintendent, Russell Cave National 
Monument, 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL 35740, telephone (256) 
495-2672, email [email protected], by October 3, 2019. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Russell 
Cave National Monument is responsible for notifying the Cherokee 
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Seminole Tribe of Florida (previously listed as the Seminole 
Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations)); Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; The Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: July 31, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-18867 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
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