[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5023-5024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01354]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029317; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
Art Theft Program, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has completed an 
inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there 
is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-
day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 
should submit a written request to the FBI. If no additional requestors 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may 
proceed.

DATES: 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the FBI at the 
address in this notice by February 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Headquarters, Attn: 
Supervisory Special Agent Timothy Carpenter, Art Theft Program, 935 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20535, telephone (954) 931-3670, 
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 under 
the control of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC. The 
human remains were removed from the northern New Mexico and Arizona 
border.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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. 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 FBI in 
consultation with the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Gila River 
Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi 
Tribe of Arizona; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; and the 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River 
Reservation, Arizona (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 2008, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals 
were removed from somewhere on the northern New Mexico and Arizona 
border. The human remains were later transported to Indiana, where they 
remained part of a private collection of Native American antiquities 
and cultural heritage. In April 2014, the human remains were seized by 
the FBI as part of a criminal investigation. The human remains 
represent one young adult female, three young-to-middle age adult 
females, three middle-to-old age adult females, two middle-to-old age 
adult males, and one individual of unknown age and sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In May 2017, the FBI consulted with all the Indian Tribes who are 
recognized as aboriginal to the border region of northwest New Mexico 
and northeast Arizona. At this consultation, the Hopi Tribe of Arizona 
agreed to accept control of the human remains on behalf of all The 
Consulted Tribes. The Consulted Tribes concurred.
    Oral traditions and archeological site analyses indicate that 
several populations of Ancestral Puebloan peoples inhabited this region 
of the New Mexico and Arizona border. Ancestral Puebloan peoples are 
considered to be the ancestors of contemporary Pueblo peoples, 
including the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Determinations Made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American, based on consultation information 
and non-invasive/non-destructive skeletal analysis.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of 
The Consulted Tribes.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Consulted Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Consulted Tribes.

[[Page 5024]]

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI 
Headquarters, Attn: Supervisory Special Agent Timothy Carpenter, Art 
Theft Program, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20535, 
telephone (954) 931-3670, email [email protected], by February 27, 
2020. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to The Consulted Tribes may 
proceed.
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is responsible for notifying 
The Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 14, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-01354 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P