[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 49607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17291]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034330; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
Art Theft Program, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 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 any 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 FBI. 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 FBI 
at the address in this notice by September 12, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI 
Headquarters, Attn: Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Randolph J. Deaton 
IV, Art Theft Program, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20535, telephone (954) 931-3670, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC. The 
human remains were removed from various locations throughout New Mexico 
and Arizona.
    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 FBI 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Fort 
Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila 
River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Mescalero 
Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona (hereafter referred to 
as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At various unknown dates, human remains representing, at minimum, 
24 individuals were removed from undisclosed locations throughout New 
Mexico and Arizona. The human remains were transported to Indiana, 
where they remained as part of a private collection of Native American 
antiquities and cultural heritage. In April of 2014, the human remains 
were seized by the FBI as part of a criminal investigation. Although 
these human remains were heavily co-mingled at the time of recovery, a 
preponderance of the evidence shows that these human remains are Native 
American and were removed from the Southwest region of New Mexico and 
Arizona. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects were present.
    The composition of the soil matrix present on the human remains, in 
addition to other evidence obtained through non-invasive/non-
destructive skeletal analysis, indicates that the remains of these 
individuals were taken from various undisclosed locations in the 
American Southwest, specifically New Mexico and Arizona. Based on 
biological, archeological, geographical, and anthropological 
information and expert opinion, these individuals are affiliated with 
the present-day Native American people of the American Southwest.

Determinations Made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 24 individuals of 
Native American/Southwest 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 the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Headquarters, Attn: Supervisory 
Special Agent (SSA) Randolph J. Deaton IV, Art Theft Program, 935 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20535, telephone (954) 931-3670, 
email [email protected], by September 12, 2022. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 3, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-17291 Filed 8-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P