[Federal Register: March 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 14203-14204]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09mr01-94]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the U.S.
Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, Richland, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of Energy,
Richland Operations Office, Richland, WA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the U.S.
Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office professional staff and
contract specialists in archeology, ethnography, and human osteology,
in consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and
Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation,
Washington; the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon; the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and the Wanapum Band, a non-
Federally recognized Indian group.
    In 1968, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from site 45-BN-128, Benton County, WA, by Dr. David Rice, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA, during an archeological survey. No known
individual was identified. The seven associated funerary objects are
fragments of dentalium shells, one of which exhibits intricately etched
designs.
    Site 45-BN-128 is a burial site located on an island about 4 miles
downriver from Tacht, a major Native American village. Tacht, located
near the East White Bluffs townsite, was occupied until 1943 by members
of the Wanapum Band, as well as members of other tribes whose
descendants now reside on the Yakama, Umatilla, Colville and Nez Perce
reservations. Artifacts observed at the burial site included chipped
stone tools, a bone needle, glass trade beads, and shell beads.
    Based on skeletal morphology, the archeological context, the
condition of the human remains, and the associated funerary objects,
these human remains have been identified as Native American dating
prior to European contact. Historic documents, ethnographic sources,
and oral history indicate that the Wanapum Band, also known as the
Priest Rapids Indians, occupied this section of the Columbia River
since precontact times. The treaties of 1855 and other historic
documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history identify site 45-BN-
128 as located on the ceded lands boundary between the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes
and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation,
Washington, in an area routinely visited by bands associated with both
groups. Bands associated with the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho and the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington, are also
known to have used the area routinely.
    In 1974-75, human remains representing one individual were
recovered from Taks'sah' (45-BN-157), Benton County, WA, during
legally-authorized archeological excavations conducted by the Mid-
Columbia Archaeological Society under the direction of Dr. David Rice,
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. The remains were transferred to the
U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office in 1994. No known
individual was identified. The eight associated funerary objects are
stone flakes.
    Taks'sah', also known as Jaeger's Island, was a principle Wanapum
sedentary village that was occupied until 1943. Based on skeletal
morphology, the archeological context, the condition of the human
remains, and the associated funerary objects, these human remains have
been identified as Native American dating prior to European contact.
Historic documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history indicate
that the Wanapum Band occupied this section of the Columbia River since
precontact times. The treaties of 1855 and other historic documents,
ethnographic sources, and oral history identify site 45-BN-157 as
located within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation, Washington, in an
area routinely visited by bands associated with this tribe. Bands
associated with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho are also known to have
used the area routinely.
    In 1987, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from site 45-BN-163, Benton County, WA, during archeological surface
collection by Hanford Cultural Resources Laboratory staff. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Site 45-BN-163 is a housepit containing materials typically
associated with the late precontact settlement of the area, including
fire-cracked rock, cobble tools, notched pebble sinkers, corner-notched
projectile points, flakes, and shell. These remains were recovered in
an area traditionally associated with the Wanapum Band and within the
ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon. Bands associated with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation, Washington; the Nez
Perce Tribe of Idaho; and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington, are also known to have used this area
routinely.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the U.S.
Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Department of Energy, Richland
Operations Office also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(2), the 15 objects listed above are reasonably

[[Page 14204]]

believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at
the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
Lastly, officials of the U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations
Office have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced
between these Native American human remains and associated funerary
objects and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian
Nation of the Yakama Reservation, Washington; the Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; the Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and the
Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Tribes
and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation,
Washington; the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon; the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and the Wanapum Band.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Dee W. Lloyd, Site Preservation Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, P.O. Box 550,
Richland, Washington 99352, telephone (509) 372-2299, before April 9,
2001. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
to the affiliated tribes may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.

    Dated: February 20, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-5939 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F