[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 30258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10649]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033924; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, Alaska State Office (BLM) 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 should submit a written request to the BLM. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the BLM 
at the address in this notice by June 17, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert E. King, Bureau of Land 
Management, 222 W 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513, telephone (907) 
271-5510, 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, Bureau of Land 
Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK. The human remains were 
removed from King Island, AK.
    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 BLM with 
the help of the University of Alaska Museum of the North professional 
staff and in consultation with representatives of the King Island 
Native Community.

History and Description of the Remains

    At some unknown date between the late 1940s and the late 1970s, 
human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from an unknown location on King Island by William Laughlin. During 
those years, Laughlin was associated, variously, with several 
universities. The human remains listed in this notice were found at the 
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology in Ann 
Arbor. They had been deposited there due to Laughlin's collaboration on 
archeological work in Alaska with Ted P. Bank II of the University of 
Michigan. Realizing the human remains had been removed from BLM lands 
on King Island, in 2014, the University of Michigan transferred the 
human remains to the Bureau of Land Management in Anchorage, AK. In 
late 2018, BLM transferred the human remains to the University Museum 
of the North in Fairbanks, AK, for temporary housing pending 
repatriation. The human remains, comprising one tooth and multiple 
cranial fragments, belong to an adult of unknown sex. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At minimum, the human remains are more than 200 years old. They are 
determined to be Native American based on their provenience (King 
Island, AK), condition, and morphology. Archeological and oral 
traditional information show a relationship of shared group identity 
between the past and present-day residents on or from King Island. The 
present-day residents of King Island, AK, are represented by the King 
Island Native Community of Nome, AK.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Land Management, Alaska State Office

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, Alaska State Office 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 King Island Native Community.

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 Robert E. 
King, Bureau of Land Management, 222 W 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 
99513, telephone (907) 271-5510, email [email protected], by June 17, 
2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the King Island Native 
Community may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Alaska State Office is responsible for notifying the King Island Native 
Community that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 10, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-10649 Filed 5-17-22; 8:45 am]
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