90 FR 52 pgs. 12776-12777 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office, Oklahoma City, OK

Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 52Pages: 12776 - 12777
Docket number: [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039641; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-04628 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: National Park Service
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 12776, 12777

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039641; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office, Oklahoma City, OK

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office (OTAO) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after April 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

Kate Ellison, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office, 5924 NW 2nd Street, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73127, telephone (405) 470-4816, email kellison@usbr.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kate Ellison, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office at telephone (405) 470-4816, or by email to kellison@usbr.gov. Individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

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 OTAO, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available


[top] Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been identified from archeological site 41MC296 in McMullen County, Texas. No associated funerary objects are present. Archeological site 41MC296 was page 12777 recorded in August 1979 by workers from the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas in San Antonio. Carbon was recovered from virtually all units and levels during Phase II excavations at the site. The dates from these samples ranged from 100-10 BC and A.D. 1520-1610. The human remains were found in level five (40-50 cm below ground surface) and level six (50-60 cm below ground surface).

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this notice.

Determinations

The OTAO has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.

• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations 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 the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the OTAO must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. OTAO of Reclamation is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

Dated: March 5, 2025.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2025-04628 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P