[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 186 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60264-60265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21081]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030812; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department, Austin, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department. 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 Texas Parks 
and Wildlife Department at the address in this notice by October 26, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Aina Dodge, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith 
School Road, Austin, TX 78744, telephone (512) 389-4876, 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX. The 
human remains were removed from Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio 
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 Texas 
Parks and Wildlife Department professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma; Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & 
Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (previously listed 
as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas) (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In December 2012, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio 
County, TX. In November 2012, a park visitor found that a human burial 
was eroding from a rock cairn located within the extreme eastern part 
of the park. Owing to their precarious position in a drainage, and 
their possible discovery by visitors, the human remains were removed by 
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department archeologists in December 2012. The 
burial, which was situated under a stone cairn, contained the remains 
of a female 27-34 years of age. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

    Officials of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on their geographical location 
and the presence of several craniofacial traits that are indicative of 
Native American populations;
     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.

[[Page 60265]]

     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 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 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 Aina Dodge, Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, telephone (512) 
389-4876, email [email protected], by October 26, 2020. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for 
notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 24, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-21081 Filed 9-23-20; 8:45 am]
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