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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13610-13611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05995]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17617; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest, Williams, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Kaibab National Forest has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian

[[Page 13611]]

organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to the Kaibab National Forest. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Kaibab National Forest at the address in 
this notice by April 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Michael R. Williams, Forest Supervisor, Kaibab National 
Forest, 800 S 6th St, Williams, AZ 86046, telephone (928) 635-8200, 
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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the USDA Forest 
Service, Kaibab National Forest. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from the North Kaibab Ranger District, 
Coconino County, AZ.
    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 and associated funerary objects. 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 Kaibab 
National Forest professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the 
Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona New Mexico & 
Utah; San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.

History and Description of the Remains

    On August 24, 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the North Kaibab Ranger District in 
Coconino County, AZ. On August 23, 1985, the Coconino County Sherriff's 
Office was contacted in regards to human skeletal remains that were 
discovered by a hunter on the North Kaibab Ranger District. On August 
24, 1985, the Coconino County Sherriff's Office conducted an 
investigation in the area and collected the human remains. On August 
26, 1985, an anthropologist examined the remains and concluded that the 
skeleton was that of a female around 50-55 years of age at death and 
approximately 5'0'' to 5'2'' in stature. The examiner further concluded 
that the remains are possibly from a Hispanic individual, but are more 
likely from a Native American person. The examination surmised that the 
individual may have died of exposure in the 1930s or earlier based on 
the condition of the remains. On November 14, 1985, the Coconino County 
Sherriff's Office closed the case and turned the remains over to 
Northern Arizona University. Later, the remains were moved to the 
Coconino County Coroner's Office in Flagstaff, AZ. In 2012, the 
Coconino County Coroner's Office notified the Kaibab National Forest of 
the remains. The five associated funerary objects are two metal belt 
buckles, two steel rings, and one lot of fragments of a leather horse 
halter with brass rivets.
    Sherriff's Office detectives and the medical examiner dated the 
remains to the 1930s or earlier. Interviews conducted during the 
investigation indicated the remains may be affiliated with the Paiute 
people. The area where the remains were located is within the 
traditional use area of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab 
Indian Reservation, Arizona.

Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest

    Officials of the USDA Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest 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(3)(A), the five objects 
described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed 
with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as 
part of the death rite or ceremony.
     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 associated funerary objects and the Kaibab 
Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona.

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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Michael R Williams, Forest Supervisor, Kaibab 
National Forest, 800 S 6th St, Williams, AZ 86046, telephone (928) 635-
8200, email [email protected] by April 15, 2015. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Kaibab Band of 
Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona, may proceed.
    The Kaibab National Forest is responsible for notifying the Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian 
Reservation, Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; San 
Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 3, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-05995 Filed 3-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P
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