[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66584-66585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25524]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033016; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Atlantic-Gulf & Mississippi Basin 
Unified Region, Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, Hollandale, MS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Atlantic-Gulf & 
Mississippi Basin Unified Region (FWS Southeast Region), has completed 
an inventory of human remains 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 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 FWS Southeast Region. 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: 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the FWS 
Southeast Region at the address in this notice by December 23, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard S. Kanaski, Regional Historic 
Preservation Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, 
694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, SC 29927, telephone (912) 257-5434, 
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 U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Hardeeville, SC. The human remains 
were removed from Washington County, MS.
    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. 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 FWS 
Southeast Region professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas [previously 
listed as Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas]; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal 
Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; 
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Quapaw 
Nation [previously listed as The Quapaw Tribe of Indians]; The 
Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation; and The Osage Nation [previously listed as Osage Tribe] 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Steele Bayou Site (22WS582) in Washington County, 
MS, during a phase I survey of the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge. 
David M. Heisler, a former employee of the University of Southern 
Mississippi, conducted the survey under contract with the FWS Southeast 
Region. The collections from this survey are in physical custody of the 
University of Southern Mississippi. After a search of the collections 
in May of 2021, representatives from the University of Southern 
Mississippi reported that the human remains--one femur--are currently 
missing. No known individual

[[Page 66585]]

was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that this 
individual is Native American through the circumstance of acquisition, 
including material culture from the site representative of Late and 
Middle Woodland periods. These circumstances show that these human 
remains are affiliated with indigenous people in these areas of 
Mississippi. Present day Indian Tribes affiliated with these cultures 
include The Tribes.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, South Atlantic-Gulf & Mississippi Basin Unified 
Region

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, South Atlantic-Gulf & Mississippi Basin Unified 
Region have determined that:
     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), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and The Tribes.

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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Richard 
Kanaski, Regional Historic Preservation Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Services, Southeast Region, 694 Beech Hill Lane, Hardeeville, SC 29927, 
telephone (912) 257-5434, email, [email protected], by December 
23, 2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may 
proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, South Atlantic-Gulf & Mississippi Basin Unified Region is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 17, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-25524 Filed 11-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P