Notice2024-21539
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77180-77181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21539]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038736; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University,
Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) has
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the
human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after October 21, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department
of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA
98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#295940474c43695e5e5c074c4d5c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e2e37303b341e29292b703b3a2b">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
WWU, 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
Human remains representing, at least, seven individuals have been
identified. The 39 associated funerary objects are bone, stone and
antler tools, carved bone, midden samples, and shells with red ochre.
Three different projects (conducted in 1975, 1976, and 2010)
related to excavation and monitoring of the Birch Bay Sewer line
resulted in the human remains and associated funerary objects listed in
this notice.
In 1975, Western Washington State College signed a contract with
Arcomm Construction Company, Inc. of Seattle to conduct ``salvage''
archaeology during the development of the Birch Bay sewage treatment
facility. The project was led by Jeannette Gaston and
[[Page 77181]]
Garland Grabert (WWU). Most of the work consisted of monitoring and
salvage archaeology during construction activities throughout the
summer of 1975.
The work conducted in 1976 was associated with, but separate from,
the 1975 Birch Bay Sewage Treatment Plant Survey described above.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC) contracted
with the Office of Public Archaeology at the University of Washington,
who then subcontracted WWU, for reconnaissance and testing of the areas
of Birch Bay State Park to be affected by developmental plans. Field
operations, led by Garland Grabert and R.L. Spear, began on August 30
and continued until September 17, 1976.
In 2010, Drayton Archaeological Research (DAR) carried out
monitoring and data recovery excavations at 45WH9. This effort was part
of the mitigation for the installation of a sewer force main
replacement in the road right-of-way by the Birch Bay Water and Sewer
District. No known individuals were identified. No hazardous chemicals
are known to have been used to treat the human remains while in the
custody of WWU.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in
this notice.
Determinations
The WWU has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 39 objects 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Lummi
Tribe of the Lummi Reservation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects 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 objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October
21, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WWU
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing
requests. The WWU 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: September 12, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-21539 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 20, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.