[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 50884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17770]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034374; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, 
Defense Health Agency, National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine 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 National 
Museum of Health and Medicine. 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 
National Museum of Health and Medicine at the address in this notice by 
September 19, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brian F. Spatola, Curator of 
Anatomical Division, National Museum of Health and Medicine, U.S. Army 
Garrison Forest Glen, 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
telephone (301) 319-3353, 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 Defense, Defense Health Agency, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver Spring, MD. The human 
remains were removed from San Nicolas Island, Ventura County, CA.
    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 National 
Museum of Health and Medicine professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California 
(previously listed as La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
La Jolla Reservation); Pala Band of Mission Indians (previously listed 
as Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, 
California); Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima 
Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Indians (previously listed as 
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, 
California); Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of Rincon 
Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of 
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno 
Indians, California (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1889, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from San Nicolas Island in Ventura County, CA. The human 
remains were removed by amateur archeologist Reverend Stephen Bowers 
and donated to the Army Medical Museum (today the National Museum of 
Health and Medicine) by Reverend Bowers on March 10, 1890, through 
Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Smith, U.S. Army, Medical Department. The 
human remains consist of the mandible belonging to an adult of 
indeterminate age with antemortem tooth loss. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains are Native American based on archeological, 
biological, and geographical evidence. Descendants of the original 
inhabitants of San Nicolas Island are found today among the Bands of 
the Pay[oacute]mkawichum (``Luise[ntilde]o'') Tribe and the Santa Ynez 
Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health 
Agency, National Museum of Health and Medicine

    Officials of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine 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 Mr. Brian 
F. Spatola, Curator of Anatomical Division, National Museum of Health 
and Medicine, U.S. Army Garrison Forest Glen, 2500 Linden Lane, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, telephone (301) 319-3353, email 
[email protected], by September 19, 2022. 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 Defense, Defense Health Agency, National 
Museum of Health and Medicine is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 10, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-17770 Filed 8-17-22; 8:45 am]
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