[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74985-74987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20878]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038694; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Sacramento District, 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. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento 
District intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural 
affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in 
this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Michelle Fitzgerald, Physical Anthropologist and 
Sacramento District NAGPRA Liaison, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Sacramento District, Planning Division, 1325 J. Street, Sacramento, CA 
95814, telephone (916) 557-7114, 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 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, and additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 297 cultural items from 17 sites and unspecified 
locations located within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento 
District Black Butte Dam and Lake operating project in Glenn and Tehama 
counties, California have been requested for repatriation. These 
cultural items are described below.

Glenn County

    One hundred thirty-three cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation. The 133 unassociated funerary objects are: one faunal 
bone, one metal fragment, one metal nail, one drilled Olivella shell 
fragment, one chipped stone, two pieces of groundstone, two shell 
fragments, two unmodified stones, four blue beads, four pieces of 
debitage, eight seed beads, 24 Olivella shell beads, and 82 shell disk 
beads. The unassociated funerary objects were removed from site CA-GLE-
10/H (Brownell Indian Cemetery) at the Sacramento District operating 
project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Glenn County, CA. Site CA-GLE-
10/H is a Native American cemetery that was utilized into the late-
1930s. Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, Sacramento District personnel, 
contractors, and/or park visitors collected these cultural items on 
unknown dates. The unassociated funerary objects were stored at the 
Black Butte Dam and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to 
the Veterans Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The 
unassociated funerary objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation 
Program facility.
    Two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The two 
unassociated funerary objects are one pestle fragment and one 
projectile point (missing). The two unassociated funerary objects were 
removed from site CA-GLE-22 at the Sacramento District operating 
project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Glenn County, CA. The pestle was 
collected in 1960 by archaeologists affiliated with San Francisco State 
College, now San Francisco State University. The pestle currently 
remains at San Francisco State University where it has been housed 
since 1960. The projectile point was removed in 1983 during survey and 
excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with California State 
University, Sacramento under contract with the Sacramento District. 
California State University, Sacramento has reported this projectile 
point as missing.
    Six cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The six 
unassociated funerary objects are column samples. The unassociated 
funerary objects were removed from site CA-GLE-25 at the Sacramento 
District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Glenn County, 
CA. The unassociated funerary objects were removed in 1983 during 
survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with 
California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. The unassociated funerary objects currently remain 
at California State University, Sacramento.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is a projectile point. The unassociated 
funerary object was removed from site CA-GLE-22 or site CA-GLE-35 at 
the Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake 
located in Glenn County, CA by Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, 
Sacramento District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on an 
unknown date. This unassociated funerary object was stored at the Black 
Butte Dam and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to the 
Veterans Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The 
unassociated funerary object currently remains at the Veterans Curation 
Program facility.
    Ten cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 10 
unassociated funerary objects are: three pieces of debitage (one is 
missing), three lithic tools (one is missing), and four projectile 
points (one is missing). The unassociated funerary objects were removed 
from site CA-GLE-35 at the Sacramento District operating project at 
Black Butte Dam and Lake in Glenn County, CA. One piece of debitage, 
one lithic tool, and one projectile point were removed in 1983 during 
survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with 
California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. California State University, Sacramento has 
reported these three unassociated funerary objects as missing. Two 
pieces of debitage, two lithic tools, and three projectile points were 
removed by Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, Sacramento District 
personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on an unknown date. The 
unassociated funerary objects were stored at the Black Butte Dam and 
Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to the Veterans Curation 
Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The seven unassociated 
funerary objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation Program 
facility.
    Five cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The five 
unassociated funerary objects are: one crescent, one piece of debitage 
(missing), one worked stone (missing), and two projectile points (one 
missing). The unassociated funerary objects were removed from site CA-
GLE-306 at the Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam 
and Lake in Glenn County, CA. One piece of debitage, one worked stone, 
and one projectile point were removed in 1983 during survey and 
excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with California State 
University, Sacramento under contract with the Sacramento District. 
California State University, Sacramento has reported these three 
unassociated funerary objects as missing. One crescent and one 
projectile point were removed by Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, 
Sacramento District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on 
unknown dates. The unassociated

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funerary objects were stored at the Black Butte Dam and Lake Project 
Office prior to being transferred to the Veterans Curation Program 
facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The two unassociated funerary 
objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation Program facility.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary object is a historic-era bottle (missing). The 
unassociated funerary object was removed from site CA-GLE-317 at the 
Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in 
Glenn County, CA. The unassociated funerary object was removed in 1983 
during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated 
with California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. California State University, Sacramento has 
reported this unassociated funerary object as missing.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary object is one flaked stone/core (missing). The 
unassociated funerary object was removed from site CA-GLE-321 at the 
Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in 
Glenn County, CA. The unassociated funerary object was removed in 1983 
during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated 
with California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. California State University, Sacramento has 
reported this unassociated funerary object as missing.
    Two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary objects are one projectile point (missing) and 
one unmodified obsidian cobble (missing). The unassociated funerary 
objects were removed from site CA-GLE-322 at the Sacramento District 
operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Glenn County, CA. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed in 1983 during survey and 
excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with California State 
University, Sacramento under contract with the Sacramento District. 
California State University, Sacramento has reported these unassociated 
funerary objects as missing.
    Three cultural objects have been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary objects are three projectile points. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from unspecified locations 
within the Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and 
Lake in Glenn County, CA by Black Butte Dam Lake staff, Sacramento 
District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on unknown dates. 
The unassociated funerary objects were stored at the Black Butte Dam 
and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to the Veterans 
Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The unassociated 
funerary objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation Program 
facility.

Tehama County

    One lot of cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary items are one lot of faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from site CA-TEH-10/TEH-
Burris Creek at the Sacramento District operating project at Black 
Butte Dam and Lake in Tehama County, CA by Black Butte Dam and Lake 
staff, Sacramento District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors 
on unknown dates. The unassociated funerary objects were stored at the 
Black Butte Dam and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to 
the Veterans Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The 
unassociated funerary objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation 
Program facility.
    Forty-two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
42 unassociated funerary objects are 42 column samples. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from site CA-TEH-231 at the 
Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in 
Tehama County, CA. The unassociated funerary objects were removed in 
1983 during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists 
affiliated with California State University, Sacramento under contract 
with the Sacramento District. The unassociated funerary objects 
currently remain at California State University, Sacramento.
    Twenty-six cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
26 unassociated funerary objects are: one chert flake, one handstone 
(missing), and 24 column samples. The unassociated funerary objects 
were removed from site CA-TEH-1317 at the Sacramento District operating 
project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Tehama County, CA. The chert 
flake was removed by Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, Sacramento 
District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on an unknown 
date. This unassociated funerary object was stored at the Black Butte 
Dam and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to the Veterans 
Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The chert flake 
currently remains at the Veterans Curation Program facility. The 
handstone and column samples were removed in 1983 during survey and 
excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with California State 
University, Sacramento under contract with the Sacramento District. The 
column samples currently remain at California State University, 
Sacramento while the handstone has been reported by the University as 
missing.
    Three cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
three unassociated funerary objects are one glass sherd (missing) and 
two historic-era ceramic sherds (missing). The unassociated funerary 
objects were removed from site CA-TEH-1318 at the Sacramento District 
operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Tehama County, CA. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed in 1983 during survey and 
excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated with California State 
University, Sacramento under contract with the Sacramento District. 
California State University, Sacramento has reported these three 
unassociated funerary objects as missing.
    Three cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
three unassociated funerary items are column samples. The unassociated 
funerary objects were removed from site CA-TEH-1321 at the Sacramento 
District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Tehama 
County, CA. The unassociated funerary objects were removed in 1983 
during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated 
with California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. The unassociated funerary objects currently remain 
at California State University, Sacramento.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is an obsidian biface (missing). The 
unassociated funerary object was removed from site CA-TEH-1322 at the 
Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in 
Tehama County, CA. The unassociated funerary object was removed in 1983 
during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated 
with California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. California State University, Sacramento has 
reported this unassociated funerary object as missing.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is an obsidian projectile point (missing). 
The unassociated funerary object was removed from site CA-TEH-1323 at 
the Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake 
in Tehama County, CA. The unassociated funerary object was

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removed in 1983 during survey and excavation work done by 
archaeologists affiliated with California State University, Sacramento 
under contract with the Sacramento District. California State 
University, Sacramento has reported this unassociated funerary object 
as missing.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is a chert flake. The unassociated 
funerary object was removed from site CA-TEH-1326 at the Sacramento 
District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in Tehama 
County, CA by Black Butte Dam and Lake staff, Sacramento District 
personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors on an unknown date. The 
unassociated funerary object was stored at the Black Butte Dam and Lake 
Project Office prior to being transferred to the Veterans Curation 
Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The unassociated funerary 
object currently remains at the Veterans Curation Program facility.
    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one 
unassociated funerary object is a piece of debitage (missing). The 
unassociated funerary object was removed from site CA-TEH-1328 at the 
Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and Lake in 
Tehama County, CA. The unassociated funerary object was removed in 1983 
during survey and excavation work done by archaeologists affiliated 
with California State University, Sacramento under contract with the 
Sacramento District. California State University, Sacramento has 
reported this unassociated funerary object as missing.

Unspecified County (Glenn or Tehama)

    Fifty-four cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 
54 unassociated funerary objects are: one chert flake, one projectile 
point, seven Olivella shell beads, and 45 shell disk beads. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from unspecified locations 
within the Sacramento District operating project at Black Butte Dam and 
Lake in Glenn and Tehama counties, CA by Black Butte Dam and Lake 
staff, Sacramento District personnel, contractors, and/or park visitors 
on unknown dates. The unassociated funerary objects were stored at the 
Black Butte Dam and Lake Project Office prior to being transferred to 
the Veterans Curation Program facility in San Mateo, CA in 2018. The 
unassociated funerary objects currently remain at the Veterans Curation 
Program facility.
    No information is available that would indicate that any of the 
cultural items in this notice have been treated with potentially 
hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District has 
determined that:
     The 297 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians 
of California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after October 15, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento 
District must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District is responsible for sending a 
copy of this notice to the 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. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: September 5, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-20878 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P