[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15263-15264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05627]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033557; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Diablo Valley College, Pleasant 
Hill, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Diablo Valley College, a campus of Contra Costa Community 
College District, has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects 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 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 Diablo 
Valley College. 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 Diablo Valley College at the address in this 
notice by April 18, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lamb, President, Diablo Valley 
College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, telephone (925) 
969-2001, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c9baa5a8a4ab89adbfaae7acadbc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f2c333e323d1f3b293c713a3b2a">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 Diablo Valley College, 
Pleasant Hill, CA. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from various locations in Contra Costa County, CA, 
including Concord, Lafayette, Oakley, Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon.
    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 
institution 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 Diablo 
Valley College professional staff in consultation (telephonic) with 
representatives of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, 
California; Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California; Wilton 
Rancheria, California; Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California [previously 
listed as Rumsey Indian Rancheria of Wintun Indians of California]; and 
two non-federally recognized Indian groups, the Muwekma Ohlone Indian 
Tribe and the Confederated Villages of Lisjan (hereafter referred to as 
``The Consulted Tribes and Groups'').
    The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California and the 
Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation were invited to 
consult but deferred to The Consulted Tribes and Groups. The Big Valley 
Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, California; 
Bridgeport Indian Colony [previously listed as Bridgeport Paiute Indian 
Colony of California]; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; 
Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, California; Hopland Band of Pomo 
Indians [previously listed as Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the 
Hopland Rancheria, California]; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico 
Rancheria, California; Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; and three non-federally recognized Indian groups--the Amah 
Mutsun Tribal Band of Mission San Juan Bautista; Indian Canyon Mutsun 
Band of Costanoan; and the Northern Valley Yokuts--were invited to 
consult but did not participate. Hereafter, the non-

[[Page 15264]]

participating Indian Tribes and groups are referred to as ``The Invited 
Tribes and Groups.''

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from an unknown site in Contra Costa County, 
CA. In 1961, the human remains were donated to Diablo Valley College by 
a person identified only as ``Perryman.'' The human remains consist of 
a lower mandible and an upper cap skull. The sex and age of the 
individuals are unknown. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Knightsen Mound, close to Oakley, CA. In 
1964, the human remains were donated to Diablo Valley College by Jerry 
Wentling. The human remains consist of a skull, mandible, and bone 
chips. The sex and age of the individual are unknown. No known 
individual was identified. The three associated funerary objects 
include one lot of olivella shell beads, one shell bead necklace, and 
one shell piece.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed ``approximately 75 yards off the main highway 
and Stone Valley Road'' in Alamo, CA. In 1964, the human remains were 
donated to Diablo Valley College by Norm LaFleur. The human remains 
consist of skull fragments. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1956, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed during an anthropological excavation at Galindo Creek in 
Concord, CA. In 1964, the human remains were donated to Diablo Valley 
College by Charles Sapper. The human remains consist of a full skull, 
skull pieces, a mandible, miscellaneous skull caps glued from four to 
five skulls, and miscellaneous skeletal materials. The sex and age of 
the individuals are unknown. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1965, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site containing graves near Hough Avenue in 
Lafayette, CA. In 1965, the human remains were donated to Diablo Valley 
College by Rick Bonnington. The human remains consist of broken skull 
pieces. The sex and age of the individual are unknown. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Sometime in the 1960s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were collected from Cypress Road on Bethel Island, in 
Oakley, CA. In March 1970, the human remains were donated to Diablo 
Valley College by Barbara Sanhuhl Fletcher. The human remains consist 
of a skull. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a grinding stone.
    At an unknown date or dates, human remains representing, at 
minimum, four individuals were removed from unknown sites in Alamo, 
Danville, and San Ramon, CA. During 1972 and 1973, the human remains 
were donated to Diablo Valley College by Rick Hicks. The human remains 
consist of two skulls in pieces; a mandible; fragile bones; vertebrae; 
foot bones; and the skull and skeleton belonging to an infant of 
indeterminate sex (the sex and age of the other three individuals are 
unknown). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    During 1973 and 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the ``La Serena archaeological excavation 
site'' in Alamo, CA. In August of 1977, the human remains were donated 
to Diablo Valley College by S. Herrmann. The human remains consist of a 
skull and mandible, and human vertebrae. The sex and age of the 
individual are unknown. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on collection research, archeological evidence, geographic 
location, ethnographic information, and oral history evidence, the 
sites from which the human remains and associated funerary objects 
listed in this notice were removed are located within the territory 
traditionally occupied by the Wilton Rancheria and the Muwekma Ohlone 
Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian group.

Determinations Made by Diablo Valley College:

    Officials of Diablo Valley College have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 16 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the four 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.
    <bullet> 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 Wilton 
Rancheria, California.

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 Susan Lamb, President, Diablo Valley College, 
321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, telephone (925) 969-2001, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#245748454946644052470a414051"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a5bab7bbb496b2a0b5f8b3b2a3">[email protected]</span></a>, by April 18, 2022. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Wilton Rancheria, 
California and, if joined to a request from the Wilton Rancheria, 
California, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, may proceed.
    Diablo Valley College is responsible for notifying The Consulted 
Tribes and Groups and The Invited Tribes and Groups that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: March 9, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-05627 Filed 3-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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