Notice of Intended Disposition: 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.
Issuing agencies
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3733-3734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01673]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6887; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041885; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Disposition: 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 intends to carry out the disposition of human remains
removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian
Tribe, or
[[Page 3734]]
Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this
notice.
DATES: Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after February 27, 2026. If no claim for disposition is received by
January 28, 2027, 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 Scott M. Hall, Supervisory Archaeologist, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla
Walla, WA 99362-1876, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbc8d8d4cfcf95d695d3dad7d7fbcec8dad8de95dac9d6c295d6d2d7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0370606c77772d6e2d6b626f6f4376706260662d62716e7a2d6e6a6f">[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 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 have been reasonably identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. The human remains are of one sub-adult,
found eroding from the riverbank near Finley, in Benton County,
Washington. The remains were discovered by a member of the public in
2010 and were transferred to law enforcement personnel in 2025 as part
of a police investigation.
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 one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Indian Reservation; and the Nez Perce Tribe 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 January 28,
2027, 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 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 they have priority for disposition.
Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after February 27, 2026. If competing claims for disposition are
received, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District must
determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests
for joint disposition of the human remains are considered a single
request and not competing requests. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Walla Walla District 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: January 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-01673 Filed 1-27-26; 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>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.