Notice2025-18861
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
September 29, 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 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46634-46635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18861]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6567; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041191; 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 October 29, 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#b2d5c0d7d7dcd7dedbf2c1dddcdddfd39cd7d6c7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63041106060d060f0a23100c0d0c0e024d060716">[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 1,846 cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. Of the cultural items being requested 1,746 lots are
unassociated funerary objects and 100 lots are sacred objects.
A total of 25 lots of unassociated funerary objects were donated to
Sonoma State University by Robert Rausch in 1978. The items were
removed from CA-MRN-0045 near Tiburon, California in Marin County. The
items include flaked stone tools, debitage, ground stone tools,
historic material, and unmodified faunal bone. The cultural items have
been at Sonoma State University since their donation.
A total of four lots of sacred objects were removed from the
Lawson's Landing, Jackson's site #4 in Dillon Beach, California in
Marin County. No additional information was located on why the items
were removed from the site. The cultural items include unmodified
faunal bone and have been at Sonoma State University since 1981.
A total of one lot of sacred objects was removed from CA-MRN-151,
California in Marin County. No additional information was located on
why the items were removed from the site. The lot of items are flaked
stone and have been at Sonoma State University since 1991.
A total of 11 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-MRN-80,
near San Rafael, California in Marin County. The items were removed for
their location during a test augering project for the Marin County
Water District. The items include flaked stone, debitage, unmodified
faunal bone, and unmodified shell. The cultural items have been at
Sonoma State University since 1991.
A total of 806 lots of unassociated funerary objects were removed
from CA-MRN-673, in Tomales, California in Marin County. The cultural
items were removed from the site during a cultural resource survey of
the area by Tom Origer & Associates for the Tomales Village Community
Services District. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if
the site fit the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places
or the California Register of Historic Places. The cultural items
include flaked stone tools, debitage, ground stone tools, historic
material,
[[Page 46635]]
unmodified faunal bone, and unmodified shell. The cultural items have
been at Sonoma State University since 2006.
A total of 515 lots of unassociated funerary objects were removed
from CA-MRN-150 in Novato, California in Marin County. These cultural
items were removed from the site during a PG&E project to remove an
abandoned segment of pipeline that laid within the northern boundary of
the site. Recovery of the cultural items were collected to evaluate the
site's eligibility for both California Register of Historical Resources
and National Register of Historical Places. The items include flaked
stone tools, debitage, ground stone tools, historic material,
unmodified faunal bone, and unmodified shell. The cultural items have
been at Sonoma State University since 2013.
A total of one lot of sacred objects was removed from the Russian
River Marin Water Project in Marin County California. No additional
information was located on why the cultural items were removed from the
site. The lot of cultural items are flaked stone and have been at
Sonoma State University since 1973.
A total of two lots of sacred objects were removed from the Point
Reyes Beach Site located in Marin County California. No additional
information was located on why the items were removed from the site.
The cultural items are flaked stone and have been at Sonoma State
University since 1976.
A total of one lot of sacred objects was removed from CA-MRN-372,
near Bolinas, California in Marin County. No additional information was
located on why the cultural items were removed from the site. The lot
of cultural items are flaked stone and have been at Sonoma State
University since 1984.
A total of 400 lots of unassociated funerary objects were removed
from CA-MRN-124, near Santa Venetia, California in Marin County. All
documentation for this collection was not located during inventory
verification, so no additional information was available on why the
cultural items were removed from the site. The cultural items include
modified faunal bone, modified shell, charcoal, clay, flaked stone
lithics, debitage, unmodified faunal bone, ground stone tools, gravel,
historic material, modified flaked stone tools, organic/seeds,
petrified wood, projectile points, unmodified shell, and soil. The
cultural items have been at Sonoma State University since 1970.
A total of three lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-MRN-
532 and CA-MRN-534H, near San Rafael, California in Marin County. No
additional information was available on why the items were removed from
the site. The cultural items are unmodified faunal bone and unmodified
shell and have been at Sonoma State University since 1986.
A total of 77 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-MRN-601,
near Novato, California in Marin County. No additional information was
available on why the items were removed from the site. The lots of
items are flaked stone debitage, unmodified faunal bone, and historic
material and have been at Sonoma State University since 1992.
In the case of missing cultural items, any additional items when
located will also be repatriated from the collections discussed above.
Based on records concerning the cultural items and the institution in
which they are housed, there is no evidence of the items being treated
with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 1,746 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> The 100 lots of 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> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Federated Indians of Graton 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 October 29, 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: September 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-18861 Filed 9-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 29, 2025.
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