Notice2025-23191
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, 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
December 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District 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 90 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59190-59192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23191]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6740; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041500; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District 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 January 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Scott Hall, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, 201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla
Walla, WA 99362, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d7a4b4b8a3a3f9baf9bfb6bbbb97a2a4b6b4b2f9b6a5baaef9babebb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1360707c67673d7e3d7b727f7f5366607270763d72617e6a3d7e7a7f">[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
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, and additional
information on
[[Page 59191]]
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
One associated funerary object has been identified from site 45AS2
(Steptoe Burial) in Asotin County, Washington. The associated funerary
object is a pestle. Burials from this site were likely from the late
prehistoric period (A.D. 1500-1700) with other areas of the site being
used during a much wider temporal span. This cultural item was likely
removed from site 45AS2 during excavations in 1972 conducted by the
University of Idaho under contract with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Between 1996 and 2000, the cultural item was transferred from the
University of Idaho to Washington State University. The item was
recently located in unprovenanced archaeological collections at
Washington State University.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from site 45BN15 (Rabbit Island) in Benton County,
Washington. No associated funerary objects are present. There are two
distinct time periods represented at site 45BN15. The earlier burials
(Rabbit Island I) date to the Frenchman-Springs Phase (3500-1500 BP)
while the later burials (Rabbit Island II) predate A.D. 1750. This
Ancestor is currently at Central Washington University.
Human remains representing, at least, five individuals have been
identified from site 45BN55 (Sheep Island) in Benton County,
Washington. No associated funerary objects are present. Site 45BN55 was
likely utilized during the late Pre-Contact to early Historic Period.
These Ancestors are currently at Central Washington University and
Eastern Washington University.
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified from site 45FR101 (Chiawana) in Franklin County, Washington.
No associated funerary objects are present. These Ancestors were likely
removed from the site during excavations in 1967. Site 45FR101 was a
village site with two main temporal components including an early
component from 5900-500 BC and a later component from A.D. 1000-1870.
Excavated Ancestors and materials were transported to the University of
Idaho before being transported to Washington State University in 2000.
One of the Ancestors is currently at Washington State University while
the other was recently returned to the University of Idaho by a former
student.
Three associated funerary objects have been identified from site
45WT002 (Trestle) in Whitman County, Washington. The three associated
funerary objects are: one modified faunal bone, one hawk bell, and one
pendant. These cultural items were removed from the site during
contract excavations conducted in 1963. Site 45WT002 has been described
as having two temporal components with the early site use spanning
6700-2500 BP and the later component being historic (mid-1800s-1900s).
The excavated materials were then split between Washington State
University and University of Idaho prior to being consolidated at
Washington State University where these cultural items still remain.
One associated funerary object has been identified from site 45WW6
in Walla Walla County, Washington. The associated funerary object is
one tubular copper bead. This cultural item was likely removed from the
site during excavations in 1951 by the Smithsonian River Basin Survey.
Site 45WW6 was likely utilized from 700 BP through A.D. 1857. This
cultural item is currently at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District Office.
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified from an Unknown Site in Washington. The 36 associated
funerary objects are: one abalone shell with serrated edge, two lots of
copper beads, one lot of dentalium bead fragments, one lot of glass
beads, one lot of glass seed beads, two buckles, two lots of buttons,
one cloth fragment with copper beads, one cloth fragment with leather
and wood, one glass disk, one metal disk, one copper fork, one lot of
faunal tooth fragments, one lot of metal fragments, one leather
fragment with white beads, one lot of lithic materials, one large metal
hook, one piece of rusted metal, one small porcelain dish, one fragment
of ribbon, two lots of shoe fragments, one large copper spoon, one
copper tube, one piece of coated wire, and one piece of wood. The
Ancestor and cultural items were located within Walla Walla District
archaeological collections from site 45WT39 at Washington State
University, but did not have associated catalog, site, or provenience
information. This Ancestor and cultural items likely originated from
Palus Cemetery (45FR36), but ultimately their provenience could not be
confirmed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District has
determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of nine individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 41 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
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
Oregon; and the Nez Perce 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 and, if joined to a request
from one or more of the Indian Tribes, the Wanapum Band of Priest
Rapids, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
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 January
20, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District 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 U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
[[Page 59192]]
is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes
and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any
other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: December 2, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23191 Filed 12-17-25; 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 December 18, 2025.
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.