Notice2025-10135
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
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
June 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sonoma State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23703-23704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10135]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040265; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sonoma State University intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects
of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after July 7, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Doshia Dodd, Sonoma State University,
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#761219051e1f17581219121236051918191b1758131203"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8dcd7cbd0d1d996dcd7dcdcf8cbd7d6d7d5d996dddccd">[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
Sonoma State University, 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 899 lots of cultural items have been requested for
repatriation from various archaeological sites near Kelseyville, Lake
County, California.
The 16 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-382. The cultural items are flaked stone tools and debitage; and
ground stone tools. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1973 under Accession number 73-23.
In 1974, at least 129 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were
taken from CA-LAK-380 (the ``Mostin'' site) near Kelseyville,
California. The exact count of individual items taken from this site is
not recorded in existing documentation. The cultural items are flaked
stone tools and debitage; a charmstone; and ground stone tools. The
cultural items were donated by Don Branscomb, an amateur archaeologist,
and have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1974 under
Accession number 74-15.
The four lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from
CA-LAK-380/381 (the ``Mostin'' site) near Kelseyville, California. The
cultural items are flaked stone tools and debitage. The presence of
these items within the collection's facility was discovered while
reviewing documentation concerning the locations of sites in Lake
County. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University
since 1988 under Accession number 88-13.
The 27 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-382. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University
since 1974 under Accession number 74-07 and housed with cultural items
from CA-LAK-380/381.
The 188 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from
surface collections around Kelseyville in Lake County, California, as a
part of the Kelseyville Geothermal Survey. The cultural items are
flaked stone tools and debitage; and historic-period items. The
cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1976
under Accession number 76-09.
The 55 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-808, CA-LAK-809, CA-LAK-811, and CA-LAK-814 as a part of the
Clearlake Shoreline Survey in Lake County, California. The cultural
items are flaked stone tools and debitage; faunal bone tools; modified
faunal bone; stone sample; and unmodified faunal bone. The cultural
items have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1977 under
Accession number 77-04.
The 52 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-1126, CA-LAK-1127, CA-LAK-1128, CA-LAK-1329, CA-LAK-1330, and CA-
LAK-1181 as a part of the Union Oil Kelsey Creek Project in Lake
County, California. The cultural items are flaked stone tools and
debitage. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1983 under Accession number 83-01.
The 257 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-745 near Kelseyville, California. The cultural items are flaked
stone tools and debitage; historic-period items; and unmodified faunal
bone. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University
since 1984 under Accession number 84-10.
Two separate groups of objects of cultural patrimony were removed
from CA-LAK-271 near Kelseyville, California. Six lots of cultural
items are ground stone tools and faunal bone and have been housed at
Sonoma State University since 1986 under Accession number 86-01. 154
lots of cultural items are flaked stone and ground stone tools. These
cultural items were donated by Jim Dotta and have been housed at Sonoma
State University since 1987 under Accession number 87-11.
The 11 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
LAK-20, CA-LAK-555, CA-LAK-1122, and CA-LAK-1243 as a part of the
Geysers Survey Project in Lake County, California. The cultural items
are flaked stone tools and debitage. The cultural items have been
housed at Sonoma State University since 1990 under Accession number 90-
81.
[[Page 23704]]
Based on records concerning the objects of cultural patrimony and
the institution in which they are housed, there is no evidence of the
objects of cultural patrimony being treated with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 899 lots of 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley
Rancheria, 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 July 7, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Sonoma State University 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. The Sonoma State University is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in 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.
Dated: May 21, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10135 Filed 6-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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