[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35431-35432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030353; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, 
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University 
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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University. 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 Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University at the address in this 
notice by July 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: B. Sunday Eiselt, Department of Anthropology, Southern 
Methodist University, 3225 Daniel Avenue, Heroy Hall #450, Dallas, TX 
75205, telephone (214) 768-2915, 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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University, Dallas, TX. The human remains were removed from site 
X41CU12, Culberson County, TX.
    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 
Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Still Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New 
Mexico; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie) (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

[[Page 35432]]

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown time, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site X41CU12 in Culberson County, TX. The 
only provenience information provided for these long bone fragments is 
Culberson County, TX . As Southern Methodist University (SMU) worked on 
the Sulfur Draw project in Culberson, these human remains are believed 
to be related to this project. SMU also excavated at sites X41CU1 
through X41CU11, where no human remains were identified. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Department of Anthropology, Southern 
Methodist University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on the geographical location 
of the human remains.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 any present-day Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgements 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 Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Tribes.

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 B. Sunday Eiselt, Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, 3225 Daniel Avenue, Heroy 
Hall #450, Dallas, TX 75205, telephone (214) 768-2915, email 
[email protected], by July 10, 2020. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 15, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-12555 Filed 6-9-20; 8:45 am]
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