Notice2025-23356
Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, San Juan; National Forest, Durango, CO
Primary source
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Published
December 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, San Juan National Forest intends to carry out the disposition of human remains removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59561-59562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23356]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6784; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041553; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, San Juan; National Forest, Durango, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
[[Page 59562]]
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, San Juan National Forest intends to carry out the disposition
of human remains removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal
descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with
priority for disposition in this notice.
DATES: Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after January 20, 2026. If no claim for disposition is received by
December 21, 2026, the human remains in this notice will become
unclaimed human remains.
ADDRESSES: Send written claims for disposition of the human remains in
this notice to Michelle Stevens, U.S. Forest Service, San Juan National
Forest, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2cfcbc1cac7cecec78cd1d6c7d4c7ccd1e2d7d1c6c38cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="224f4b414a474e4e470c51564754474c5162575146430c454d54">[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
Forest Service, and additional information on the human remains in this
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
identifications in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Based on the information available, human remains representing, at
least, one individual has been reasonably identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
On September 6, 2025, human remains representing one individual
were recovered from Forest Service site 02130203976/5MT5308. This site
is within National Register of Historic Places Archaeological District
5MT6599. The human remains were discovered and brought to local
authorities by a visitor when found eroding from the shorelines of
McPhee Reservoir on the Dolores Ranger District, San Juan National
Forest, Montezuma County, CO. Local authorities notified the Forest
Service. On September 26, 2025, Forest Service archaeologists visited
the site; no evidence of the original burial, additional bone
fragments, or vandalism were found.
Site 02130203976/5MT5308 consists of two artifact concentrations
with flaked stone and a pottery sherd. No temporally diagnostic
artifacts are present. Based on archaeological context and geographic
location, the site was occupied by Native Americans between the
Basketmaker III and post-Puebloan periods, A.D. 500-1840.
Determinations
The Forest Service has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of at least one individual of Native American
ancestry.
<bullet> Based on archaeological context and geographic location
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah;
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of
Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New
Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico;
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo
of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo
of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of
Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New
Mexico; Santo Domingo Pueblo; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern
Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray
Reservation, Utah; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; and the Zuni Tribe of the
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico have priority for disposition of the human
remains described in this notice.
Claims for Disposition
Written claims for disposition of the human remains in this notice
must be sent to the appropriate official identified in this notice
under ADDRESSES. If no claim for disposition is received by December
21, 2026, the human remains in this notice will become unclaimed human
remains. Claims for disposition may be submitted by:
1. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice who shows that they have
priority for disposition.
Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after January 20, 2026. If competing claims for disposition are
received, the Forest Service must determine the most appropriate
claimant prior to disposition. Claims for joint disposition of the
human remains are considered a single claim and not competing claims.
The Forest Service is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the lineal descendants, 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. 3002, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.7.
Dated: December 8, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23356 Filed 12-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 19, 2025.
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