Notice2025-15971
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
August 21, 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 unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or 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 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40844-40845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15971]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6440; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040850; 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
unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or 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 September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Elise-Alexandria Green, Sonoma State
University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f3a33362c3a71382d3a3a311f2c303130323e713a3b2a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b0e0702180e450c190e0e052b18040504060a450e0f1e">[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 2,547 cultural items have been requested for
repatriation from various sites from Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino
counties. A total of 2,346 cultural items are identified as sacred
objects and the other 201 are identified as objects of cultural
patrimony.
A total of 115 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-HUM-1229
in Garberville, California located in Humboldt County. The cultural
items include flaked stone debitage and flaked obsidian. The cultural
items were removed from the site during a PG&E project to replace
transmission and distribution poles along the Garberville-Laytonville
Transmission line. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 2011 under Accession Number 2011-15.
The five sacred objects from Humboldt County are obsidian
projectile points located at the Doublegate Ridge, Ford's Flat near
Bridgeville, California, and Buck Mountain. These cultural items were
all donated by J.R.R. and have been housed at Sonoma State University
since 1982 under Accession Number 82-01.
The 1,930 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-HUM-945 near
Redway, California located in Humboldt County. The cultural items were
collected during an archaeological test led by the Federal Highway
Administration to evaluate the areas of CA-HUM-945 that would be
impacted by the Redway sewer treatment plant upgrade. The cultural
items are obsidian flakes, modern debris, faunal bone, sandstone tools,
stone tools, quartzite flakes, modified chert, chert flakes, and chert
projectile points. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1994 under Accession Number 94-33.
The 256 lots of sacred objects were donated to Sonoma State
University by Jere Melo. The cultural items were removed from CA-MEN-
1632 in Mendocino County. The cultural items are obsidian flakes,
modified obsidian, stone debitage, sandstone tools, groundstone tools,
chert projectile points, faunal bone, charcoal, shell and flake tools.
The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since
1986 under Accession Number 86-03.
The 40 lots of sacred objects donated to Sonoma State University by
Jere Melo are chert flakes. At the time of their removal and donation
the cultural items were identified to be from CA-MEN-1631 near Wheeler,
California located in Mendocino County. However, CA-MEN-1631 has since
been combined with CA-MEN-1632. The cultural items have been housed at
Sonoma State University since 1986 under Accession Number 86-03.
The two objects of cultural patrimony were removed from
Rohnerville, California located in Humboldt County. These cultural
items include faunal bone and modified chert that were removed from the
location during an archaeological survey. The cultural items have been
housed at Sonoma State University since 1976 under Accession Number 76-
09.
The two objects of cultural patrimony were removed near Dinsmore
River in Humboldt County. There is little additional information as to
how the cultural items were collected and became housed at Sonoma
State. The cultural items are modified chert and have been housed at
Sonoma State University since 1983 under Accession Number 83-01.
A total of 14 objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
HUM-1230 in Garberville, California located in Humboldt County. The
cultural items are flaked stone debitage. The cultural items were
removed from the site during a PG&E project to replace transmission and
distribution poles along the Garberville-Laytonville Transmission line.
The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since
2011 under Accession Number 2011-13.
A total of three objects of cultural patrimony were removed from
CA-HUM-1231 in Garberville, California located in Humboldt County. The
cultural items are flaked stone debitage. The cultural items were
removed from the site during a PG&E project to replace transmission and
distribution poles along the Garberville-Laytonville Transmission line.
The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since
2011 under Accession Number 2011-14.
A total of two lots of objects of cultural patrimony were removed
from CA-TRI-240 near Hyampom, California located in Trinity County. The
cultural items are sandstone. There is little additional information as
to how the cultural items were collected and made it to Sonoma State.
The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since
1982 under Accession Number 82-01.
[[Page 40845]]
A total of 19 objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
TRI-854 during the Kerawaka Creek Survey in Trinity County. The
cultural items are chert projectile points and modified chert flakes.
The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since
1982 under Accession Number 82-01.
A total of one object of cultural patrimony was removed from CA-
TRI-856 during the Kekwaka Creek Survey in Trinity County. The cultural
item is a groundstone tool. The cultural item has been housed at Sonoma
State University since 1982 under Accession Number 82-01.
A total of two objects of cultural patrimony were removed from CA-
TRI-859 during the Kekawaka Creek Survey in Trinity County. The
cultural items are a groundstone tool and modified chert. The cultural
items have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1982 under
Accession Number 82-01.
A total of one object of cultural patrimony was removed from CA-
TRI-860 during the Kekawaka Creek Survey in Trinity County. The
cultural item is a chert projectile point. The cultural item has been
housed at Sonoma State University since 1982 under Accession Number 82-
01.
There were 135 lots of objects of cultural patrimony donated to
Sonoma State University by Jere Melo. At the time of the cultural
object's removal and donation to Sonoma State, they were identified to
have been removed from CA-MEN-1672 near Wheeler, California in
Mendocino County. However, since then CA-MEN-1672 has been combined to
fall within CA-MEN-1671. The cultural items are chert flakes,
sandstone, groundstone tools, chert projectile points, faunal bone, and
flake tools. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State
University since 1986 under Accession Number 86-03.
A total of 20 lots of objects of cultural patrimony were donated to
Sonoma State University by Jere Melo. The cultural items were removed
from CA-MEN-1673 near Wheeler, California located in Mendocino County.
The cultural items are chert flakes and chert projectile points. The
cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1986
under Accession Number 86-03.
Based on records concerning the sacred objects, objects of cultural
patrimony, and the institution in which they are housed, there is no
evidence of the cultural items being treated with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 2,346 sacred objects described in this notice are
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization.
<bullet> The 201 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 reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Bear River Band of the
Rohnerville 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 September 22, 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: August 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15971 Filed 8-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 21, 2025.
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