83 FR 7770 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 36 (February 22, 2018)

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes, and with the cooperation of the University of Alaska Museum of the North, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe 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 the BLM, Alaska State Office. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7770-7771]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03629]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024976; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), Alaska State Office, has completed an inventory of human remains 
and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes, and with the cooperation of the University of Alaska 
Museum of the North, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and present-day Indian Tribes. Lineal descendants or representatives of 
any Indian Tribe 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 the BLM, Alaska State 
Office. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian 
Tribes stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe 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 the BLM, 
Alaska State Office, at the address in this notice by March 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert King, BLM-Alaska State NAGPRA Coordinator, 222 
West 7th Avenue, Box 13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, telephone (907) 271-
5510, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the BLM and housed at 
the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from the Sikoruk site (XHP-
00002) in the North Slope Borough, AK, on land administered by the BLM.
    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 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 the BLM, 
Alaska State Office, and the University of Alaska Museum of the North 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of Native 
Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, Native Village of 
Nuiqsut (aka Nooiksut), and Village of Anaktuvuk Pass.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1971, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Sikoruk site (XHP-00002) at Tukuto Lake in the North 
Slope Borough, AK, by Dr. Edwin S. Hall. The lands surrounding Tukuto 
Lake are within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and are 
administrated by the BLM. In 2016, the human remains were transferred 
from Ohio History Connection in Columbus, OH, where they had been held 
since 1971, to the University of Alaska Museum of the North in 
Fairbanks, AK, which serves as the primary repository for the BLM, 
Alaska State Office. The human remains are a 75-percent complete 
skeleton of a young adult female, 20-34 years old, and their condition 
suggests they are a few hundred years old. No known individual was 
identified. The two

[[Page 7771]]

associated funerary objects are one left distal tarsal and one left 
foot phalange of a medium sized true seal (Family Phocidae).

Determinations Made by the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State 
Office

    Officials of the BLM, Alaska State Office, have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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.
     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 Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government, Native Village of Nuiqsut (aka Nooiksut), and Village of 
Anaktuvuk Pass.

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 Dr. Robert King, BLM-Alaska State NAGPRA 
Coordinator, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, 
telephone (907) 271-5510, email [email protected], by March 26, 2018. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, 
Native Village of Nuiqsut (aka Nooiksut), and Village of Anaktuvuk Pass 
may proceed.
    The BLM, Alaska State Office, is responsible for notifying tribal 
representatives of Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government, Native Village of Nuiqsut (aka Nooiksut), and Village of 
Anaktuvuk Pass that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-03629 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P