Notice2026-18331
Notice of Inventory Completion: California Department of Transportation, Oakland, CA
Primary source
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Published
September 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57382-57383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18331]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7469; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043675; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: California Department of
Transportation, Oakland, 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 California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the
associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice
may occur on or after October 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the associated
funerary objects in this notice to Cesar Villanueva, PQS Principal
Investigator--Precontact Archaeology, California Department of
Transportation, District 4, 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93d0f6e0f2e1bdc5fafffff2fde6f6e5f2d3f7fce7bdf0f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3172544250431f67585d5d505f4454475071555e451f52501f565e47">[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
Caltrans, and additional information on 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
Associated funerary objects have been identified totaling six lots
representing soil samples. These cultural items are from five
archaeological sites in Sonoma County along State Routes 12 and 116 and
are housed at Sonoma State University (SSU). The six collections from
these sites are the result of Caltrans project-delivery related
excavations at the following sites between 1978 and 2022: CA-SON-25/H
(Acc. 92-004, 92-041), CA-SON-26 (Acc. 92-004), CA-SON-120 (Acc. 86-
14), CA-SON-1940 (Acc. 92-004), CA-SON-1941/H (Acc. 92-004). There are
no known/documented potentially hazardous substances used to treat any
of the cultural items.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
Caltrans has determined that:
<bullet> The six 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 associated funerary objects
described in this notice and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,
California.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the 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.
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 associated funerary objects described in this
notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 9, 2026. If
competing requests for repatriation are received, Caltrans must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are
considered a single request and not competing requests. Caltrans is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
[[Page 57383]]
Dated: September 1, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-18331 Filed 9-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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