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

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 15 lots of cultural items, categorized by object or material classification, have been requested for repatriation from two San Bernardino County collections. From CA-SBR-1650, five lots of objects of cultural patrimony represent lithics (primarily quartzite, jasper, chalcedony, and obsidian), worked and unworked faunal bone, groundstone, ecofacts, and other. From CA-SBR-15103/H, 10 lots of objects of cultural patrimony represent modified and unmodified faunal bone, charcoal, shell, flaked stone or lithics, groundstone, manuports, botanical material, bone bead, ceramic clay, and other.

The objects of cultural patrimony recovered from CA-SBR-1650 were the result of 1976 test excavations conducted in support of Caltrans' State Route 18 Godwins Curve Realignment Project in Big Bear Valley. Those recovered from CA-SBR-15103/H were result of 2012 Phase II excavations conducted in support of Caltran's State Route 58 Hinkley Expressway Widening Project near Hinkley. The collections are currently in the custody of the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) under Accessions SBCM-44 (SBCM-44a and SBCM 44b) and SBCM-6284, respectively.

Objects included in this notice are currently missing from both collections, and SBCM and Caltrans continue to look for them. There are no known/documented potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the cultural items.

Determinations

Caltrans has determined that:

• The 15 objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously listed as as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California).

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 21, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Caltrans must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. Caltrans is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in ( printed page 46140) this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

91 FR 46139