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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 96674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28487]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039150; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Harrison, 
NE

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, 
National Park Service, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) 
intends to carry out the disposition of human remains 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 in this notice may occur on or 
after December 5, 2025. If no claim for disposition is received by 
December 5, 2025, the human remains in this notice will become 
unclaimed human remains.

ADDRESSES: Jay Sturdevant, Superintendent, Agate Fossil Beds National 
Monument, 301 River Road, Harrison, NE 69346-2743, telephone (308) 665-
4110, 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 
Superintendent, AGFO, and additional information on the human remains 
in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in 
the related records.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, one individual has been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. On August 6, 2020, a human skull was 
found in the Niobrara River on Federal land within the boundary of AGFO 
in Sioux County, NE. Law enforcement officers from the National Park 
Service (NPS), Sioux County Sheriff's Office, and the Nebraska State 
Patrol responded to the discovery. The NPS law enforcement officer took 
possession of the remains and placed them in a secure vault. The 
remains were visually examined and through facial micromorphology 
determined to be Native American. The skull had glue, tape, and faint 
blue lettering (undecipherable) on it. Nothing else is known about the 
remains or from where they originated. The remains are not part of any 
known NPS museum holdings.

Determinations

    AGFO has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
     The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Ponca Tribe 
of Nebraska have priority for disposition of the human remains 
described in this notice.

Claims for Disposition

    Written claims for disposition of the human remains in this notice 
must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice 
under ADDRESSES. If no claim for disposition is received by December 5, 
2025, the human remains in this notice will become unclaimed human 
remains. 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, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for disposition.
    Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after January 6, 2025. If competing claims for disposition are 
received, AGFO must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to 
disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. AGFO 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: November 22, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-28487 Filed 12-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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