[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00360]



[[Page 1344]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

43 CFR Part 10

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-33190; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.550000]
RIN 1024-AE19


Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Systematic 
Process for Disposition and Repatriation of Native American Human 
Remains, Funerary Objects, Sacred Objects, and Objects of Cultural 
Patrimony--Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior is extending the public comment 
period for the proposed rule to amend regulations to improve 
implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act of 1990. Extending the comment period will allow more 
time for the public to review the proposal and submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on October 
18, 2022 (87 FR 63202), is extended. Comments must be received by 11:59 
p.m. EST on January 31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by the 
Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1024-AE19, by any one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail to: National NAGPRA Program, National Park Service, 
1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 7360, Washington, DC 20240. Attn: Melanie 
O'Brien, Manager NAGPRA Rule Comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``National Park Service'' or ``NPS'' and the RIN (1024-AE19) for this 
rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
Written comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any way 
other than those specified above. The NPS will not accept bulk comments 
in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie O'Brien, National NAGPRA 
Program, National Park Service, (202) 354-2201, 
melanie_o'[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 18, 2022, the Department of the 
Interior (DOI) published in the Federal Register (87 FR 63202) a 
proposed rule to amend the regulations to improve implementation of the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. These 
proposed regulations would clarify and improve upon the systematic 
process for the disposition and repatriation of Native American human 
remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural 
patrimony. The proposed changes would provide a step-by-step roadmap 
for museums and Federal agencies to comply with requirements within 
specific timelines to facilitate the required disposition and 
repatriation. The proposed changes would describe the processes in 
accessible language with clear timelines and terms, reduce ambiguity, 
and improve efficiency in meeting the requirements. In addition, the 
proposed changes emphasize consultation in every step and defer to the 
customs, traditions, and Native American traditional knowledge of 
lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. 
The public comment period for this proposal is scheduled to close on 
Tuesday, January 17, 2023. In order to give the public additional time 
to review and comment on the proposal, the DOI is extending the public 
comment period until Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Comments previously 
submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted, as they will be 
fully considered in preparing the final rule.

Shannon Estenoz,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2023-00360 Filed 1-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P