Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 116 / Thursday, June 18, 2009 / Notices 28945 

remains and associated funerary objects 

and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono 

Indians of California; Cold Springs 

Rancheria of Mono Indians of 

California; Northfork Rancheria of Mono 

Indians of California; Picayune 

Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of 

California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation, California; and Tuolumne 

Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the 

Tuolumne Rancheria of California. 

Representatives of any other Indian 

tribe that believes itself to be culturally 

affiliated with the human remains and 

associated funerary objects should 

contact Richard Perry, NAGPRA Point 

of Contact, USACE Army Corps of 

Engineers, 1325 J St., Sacramento, CA 

95814, telephone (916) 557–5218, before 

July 20, 2009. Repatriation of the human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

to the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono 

Indians of California; Cold Springs 

Rancheria of Mono Indians of 

California; Northfork Rancheria of Mono 

Indians of California; Picayune 

Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of 

California; Santa Rosa Indian 

Community of the Santa Rosa 

Rancheria, California; Table Mountain 

Rancheria of California; Tule River 

Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation, California; and Tuolumne 

Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the 

Tuolumne Rancheria of California may 

proceed after that date if no additional 

claimants come forward. 

Officials of the Army Corps of 

Engineers, Sacramento District are 

responsible for notifying the Big Sandy 

Rancheria of Mono Indians of 

California; Cold Springs Rancheria of 

Mono Indians of California; Northfork 

Rancheria of Mono Indians of 

California; Picayune Rancheria of 

Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa 

Rosa Indian Community of the Santa 

Rosa Rancheria, California; Table 

Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule 

River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 

Reservation, California; and Tuolumne 

Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the 

Tuolumne Rancheria of California that 

this notice has been published. 

Dated: May 18, 2009 

Sherry Hutt, 

Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. E9–14296 Filed 6–17–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–50–S 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

Notice of Inventory Completion: 

Binghamton University, State 

University of New York, Binghamton, 

NY 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

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 associated 

funerary objects in the possession and 

control of Binghamton University, State 

University of New York, Binghamton, 

NY. The associated funerary objects 

were removed from the Engelbert site, 

Tioga County, NY. 

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 associated funerary objects. 

The National Park Service is not 

responsible for the determinations in 

this notice. 

A detailed assessment of the 

associated funerary objects was made by 

Binghamton University professional 

staff in consultation with 

representatives of the Cayuga Nation of 

New York; Delaware Tribe (part of the 

Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma); Delaware 

Nation, Oklahoma; Oneida Tribe of 

Indians of Wisconsin; Oneida Nation of 

New York; Onondaga Nation of New 

York; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New 

York (formerly the St. Regis Mohawk 

Band of Mohawk Indians of New York); 

Seneca Nation of New York; SenecaCayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Stockbridge 

Munsee Community, Wisconsin; 

Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of 

New York; and Tuscarora Nation of New 

York. 

In 1967 and 1968, human remains 

representing a minimum of 188 

individuals and associated funerary 

objects were removed from the 

Engelbert site in Tioga County, NY, 

during gravel mining for construction of 

the Southern Tier Expressway (NY 17). 

Initial assessment of the site was done 

in 1967 by Dr. Robert E. Funk of the 

New York State Museum, Albany, NY. 

In 1967, Dr. Marian E. White, assisted 

by students from the State University of 

New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, conducted 

trench excavations in a portion of the 

site. In 1967 and 1968, the primary 

archeological excavations and recovery 

were directed by Dr. William D. Lipe of 

SUNY-Binghamton over two field 

seasons, with the assistance of members 

of the Triple Cities Chapter of the New 

York State Archeological Association, 

students from SUNY-Binghamton, and 

local volunteers. In 1967, the human 

remains and associated funerary objects 

were placed under the control of the 

Triple Cities Chapter of the New York 

State Archeological Association, and 

then transferred to the State University 

of New York at Binghamton in 1968. In 

1989, the human remains were 

transferred to the New York State 

Museum for curation. No known 

individuals were identified. The 

associated funerary objects are in the 

physical possession and control of 

Binghamton University. The 2,640 

associated funerary objects are 804 

pieces of lithic debitage; 438 lots of 

fragmented pottery; 319 roughstone 

tools; 136 chipped stone bifaces and 

tools; 104 lots of animal bone and shell; 

88 bone beads; 51 copper ornaments; 47 

pieces of fire-cracked rock; 18 fragments 

of pipes; 18 groundstone tools; 4 bone 

points; 2 shell beads; 1 bone comb; and 

610 geologic/organic samples. 

Archeological evidence shows that 

the Engelbert site is a large, 

multicomponent habitation site on a 

gravel knoll bordering the Susquehanna 

River in New York. The knoll was used 

intermittently over a period of about 

5,000 years, as suggested by diagnostic 

artifacts from the Late Archaic (Lamoka, 

Dustin, and Snook Kill points), 

Transitional (Susquehanna Broad 

points), Late Woodland (triangular 

points, pottery), Proto-historic and 

Historic (beads, copper ornaments, and 

pottery) periods. The site was also used 

as a burial site during at least two 

different periods, from about A.D. 1000 

to the 1400s, and again during the late 

1500s and possibly into the early 1600s. 

The later burials are few in number. 

Archeologists have concluded that 

artifacts associated with the earlier 

burials, including pottery (e.g., 

Carpenter Brook, Levanna, Sackett, 

Kelso, Castle Creek, and Oak Hill) and 

projectile points (triangular Levannas/ 

Madisons), are similar to other sites 

across a broad geographic region that 

later became associated with both 

Iroquoian- and Algonquian-speaking 

peoples, some of whom became 

members of the Haudenosaunee 

Confederacy, a non-Federally 

recognized Indian group for the 

purposes of NAGPRA. The 

Haudenosaunee Confederacy includes 

the Federally-recognized six Nations of 

the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, 

Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. 

28946 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 116 / Thursday, June 18, 2009 / Notices 

The later burials at the site contained 

pottery types (e.g., Schultz Incised, 

Monongahela, shell-tempered) and 

copper ornaments (e.g., spirals) that 

usually are associated with 

Susquehannock peoples who lived in 

the Susquehanna River Valley in New 

York and Pennsylvania. Archeological 

data indicate that Susquehannock 

material culture and lifeways were 

broadly similar to other Iroquoian- and 

Algonquian- speaking peoples, 

including the Haudenosaunee, Erie, 

Petun, Huron, and Delaware among 

others. Archeological and historical 

evidence shows that, towards the end of 

the 16th century, the Susquehannock 

moved south along the Susquehanna 

River to escape warfare and position 

their villages closer to trade with the 

southern colonies. Throughout the 17th 

century, the Susquehannock were 

greatly reduced by disease and warfare. 

Historical records show that by A.D. 

1763, the Susquehannock were so 

diminished by these processes that they 

ceased to exist as a separate group. 

Individuals and groups were adopted 

and assimilated into various Indian 

Nations. Some survivors moved 

northward to live among the 

Haudenosaunee, while other 

Susquehannocks lived among their 

Delaware allies. As a result, no 

Federally-recognized Susquehannock 

groups exist today for the purposes of 

NAGPRA. Haudenosaunee oral tradition 

describes a relationship of shared group 

identity with the Susquehannock 

peoples, such as those interred at the 

Engelbert site, based on the adoption of 

many Susquehannock into Nations 

within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. 

The Onondaga Nation asserts a 

relationship of shared group identity 

with the peoples interred at the 

Engelbert site based on oral history, 

geography, linguistics, material culture, 

and kinship. 

The Onondaga Nation petitioned the 

Native American Graves Protection and 

Repatriation Committee (Review 

Committee) to hear a dispute with the 

New York State Museum about the 

cultural affiliation of the human 

remains removed from the Engelbert 

site. The Engelbert funerary objects in 

the physical possession and control of 

Binghamton University are directly 

associated with the human remains 

removed from the Engelbert site, but 

were not part of this hearing. During 

their October 11–12, 2008 meeting in 

San Diego, CA, and in their Findings 

and Recommendations published in the 

Federal Register (74 FR 9427–9428, 

March 4, 2009), the Review Committee 

found a relationship of shared group 

identity between the human remains 

from the Engelbert site and the 

Onondaga Nation and Haudenosaunee 

Confederacy. The Onondaga Nation and 

the New York State Museum consulted 

with members of the Confederacy, as 

well as the Stockbridge-Munsee and 

Delaware Nation, and found support for 

repatriation of the Engelbert human 

remains to the Onondaga Nation, as 

documented in written support from the 

Federally-recognized Tonawanda 

Seneca Indians of New York and 

Tuscarora Nation of New York; verbal 

support from the Federally-recognized 

Oneida Nation of New York; St. Regis 

Mohawk Tribe, New York; Seneca 

Nation of New York; Cayuga Nation of 

New York, and Oneida Tribe of Indians 

of Wisconsin; and written support from 

the Delaware Tribe of Indians (part of 

the Federally-recognized Cherokee 

Nation, Oklahoma) and the Federallyrecognized Stockbridge-Munsee 

Community, Wisconsin. Based on this 

information, Binghamton University 

also supports the repatriation of the 

associated funerary objects from the 

Engelbert site to the Onondaga Nation 

within whose traditional territory the 

associated funerary objects were found. 

Officials of Binghamton University 

have determined that, pursuant to 25 

U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 2,640 lots and 

objects described above are reasonably 

believed to have been placed with or 

near individual Native American human 

remains at the time of death or later as 

part of the death rite or ceremony. 

Officials of Binghamton University have 

determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 

3001 (2), there is a relationship of 

shared group identity that can be 

reasonably traced between the 

associated funerary objects and the 

Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a nonFederally-recognized Indian group for 

the purposes of NAGPRA. Based on the 

written and verbal support of 

Haudenosaunee and Delaware Nations, 

officials of Binghamton University also 

have determined that the associated 

funerary objects should be repatriated to 

the Onondaga Nation of New York 

within whose traditional territory the 

associated funerary objects were found. 

Representatives of any other Indian 

Nation or tribe that believes itself to be 

culturally affiliated with the associated 

funerary objects should contact Nina M. 

Versaggi, Public Archaeology Facility, 

Binghamton University, Binghamton, 

NY 13902–6000, telephone (607) 777– 

4786, before July 20, 2009. Repatriation 

of the associated funerary objects to the 

Onondaga Nation of New York may 

proceed after that date if no additional 

claimants come forward. 

Binghamton University is responsible 

for notifying the Cayuga Nation of New 

York; Delaware Tribe (part of the 

Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma); Delaware 

Nation, Oklahoma; Oneida Tribe of 

Indians of Wisconsin; Oneida Nation of 

New York; Onondaga Nation of New 

York; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New 

York; Seneca Nation of New York; 

Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; 

Stockbridge Munsee Community, 

Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca 

Indians of New York; and Tuscarora 

Nation of New York that this notice has 

been published. 

Dated: May 18, 2009 

Sherry Hutt, 

Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. E9–14298 Filed 6–17–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–50–S 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R9–FHC–2009–N0092; 71490–1351– 

0000–M2–FY09] 

Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock 

Assessment Report 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft 

revised marine mammal stock 

assessment reports for the Pacific walrus 

stock and two stocks of polar bears; 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 

as amended (MMPA), and its 

implementing regulations, we, the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 

have developed draft revised marine 

mammal stock assessment reports 

(SARs) for the Pacific walrus (Odobenus 

rosmarus divergens) stock and for each 

of the two polar bear (Ursus maritimus) 

stocks in Alaska: The southern Beaufort 

Sea polar bear stock and the Chukchi/ 

Bering seas polar bear stock. These three 

SARs are available for public review 

and comment. 

DATES: We must receive comments by 

September 16, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: To obtain the SARs for the 

Pacific walrus or either polar bear stock, 

and to submit comments, see Document 

Availability and Public Comment, 

respectively, under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa 

Meehan, Marine Mammals Management 

Office, (800) 362–5148 (telephone) or 

r7_mmm_comment@fws.gov (e-mail). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: