[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58763-58764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15897]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038299; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Reclamation, Region 10: California-Great Basin, Sacramento, 
CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau 
of Reclamation, Region 10: California-Great Basin (Bureau of 
Reclamation) intends to carry out the disposition of human remains and 
associated funerary objects, removed from Federal or Tribal lands to 
the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization 
with priority for disposition in this notice.

DATES: Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
in this notice may occur on or after August 19, 2024. If no claim for 
disposition is received by July 21, 2025, the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human 
remains and associated funerary objects.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Melanie Ryan, Bureau of Reclamation, Region 10: 
California-Great Basin, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, 
telephone (916) 978-5526, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
Bureau of Reclamation, and additional information on the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the identifications in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, seven individuals of Native American ancestry, have been 
reasonably identified. The 238 associated funerary objects include 127 
faunal remains and 111 cultural items (abalone shells, awls, beads, 
bifaces, bone tubes, debitage, flake tools, formed flake tools, 
modified faunal bones, pestles, projectile points).
    On November 16, 2022, after months of severe drought, Reclamation 
identified human remains eroding from the exposed, deflated lake bottom 
in the draw-down zone at Lake Berryessa, Napa County, California, at a 
previously recorded site identified as CA-NAP-099. After consultation 
with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Reclamation removed three 
inhumations, numerous disassociated human remains, and funerary objects 
on November 17 and December 20-23, 2022, as requested by the Nation. No 
known individuals were identified.

Determinations

    The Bureau of Reclamation has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of at least seven individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
     The 238 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California has priority for 
disposition of the human remains or cultural items described in this 
notice.

Claims for Disposition

    Written claims for disposition of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the appropriate 
official identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. If no claim for 
disposition is received by July 21, 2025, the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human 
remains and associated funerary objects. Claims for disposition may be 
submitted by:
    1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization identified in this notice.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows,

[[Page 58764]]

by a preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for 
disposition.
    Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in 
this notice may occur on or after August 19, 2024. If competing claims 
for disposition are received, the Bureau of Reclamation must determine 
the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint 
disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The Bureau of 
Reclamation is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 
lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations 
identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.

    Dated: July 10, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-15897 Filed 7-18-24; 8:45 am]
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