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 BLM CA, 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

In Washoe County, Nevada, ancestral remains of at least five individuals and 117 associated funerary belongings (both single items and lots) were removed by the BLM from three sites ( 37.22.11.33/26WA3569, 38.22.26.14, and 38.22.26.17) and one unknown location.

In Washoe County, Nevada near Hog Ranch Mountain, in 1988, ancestral remains representing at least one individual and 37 associated funerary belongings were removed from site 37.22.11.33/26WA3569 by BLM Archaeologists for the permitting of a gold mine. The 37 lots of associated funerary belongings include lithic flakes, stone tools, charcoal fragments, faunal bone, and scat. The entire collection is considered associated funerary belongings.

In Washoe County, Nevada near Hog Ranch Mountain, in 1988, ancestral remains representing at least one individual and 18 associated funerary belongings were removed from site 38.22.26.14. The 18 lots of associated funerary belongings include debitage, stone tools, petrified wood, milling stone fragments, and faunal bone fragments. The entire collection is considered associated funerary belongings.

In Washoe County, Nevada near Hog Ranch Mountain, in 1988, ancestral remains representing, at least, one individual and five associated funerary belongings were removed from site 38.22.26.17 by BLM Archaeologists for the permitting of a gold mine. The five associated funerary belongings include debitage, stone tools, and a faunal bone fragment. The entire collection is considered associated funerary belongings.

In Washoe County, Nevada near Massacre Lake, at an unknown date likely prior to 1970, ancestral remains representing at least two individuals were removed by a member of the public without authorization from an unknown site. The 57 associated funerary belongings include faunal fragments from birds and mammals. The entire collection is considered associated funerary belongings.

All four holdings described here are housed at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, Nevada. No known hazardous or potentially hazardous substances were used to treat any of the ancestral remains or associated funerary belongings. ( printed page 52344)

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 and associated funerary belongings described in this notice.

Determinations

The BLM CA has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of at least five individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 117 belongings described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary belongings described in this notice and the Cedarville Rancheria, California; Fort Bidwell Indian Community of the Fort Bidwell Reservation of California; Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada; Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada; Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada; and the Susanville Indian Rancheria, California.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary belongings 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 and associated funerary belongings described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 14, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the BLM CA must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary belongings are considered a single request and not competing requests. The BLM CA 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.

91 FR 52343