Law, Regulations, and Guidance

A number of resources are available to assist museums, agencies, and Native American communities in carrying out NAGPRA. For additional information regarding the specialized terms used in NAGPRA, see the NAGPRA Glossary.

Law and Regulations

• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. [Nov. 16, 1990] PDF or Text
• Final Regulations, 43 CFR 10 (includes preamble) [Dec. 04, 1995] PDF or Text
• 43 CFR 10 - Updated (Full Text, excluding preamble, of 43 CFR 10 as amended January 13, 1997; August 1, 1997; April 3, 2003; September 30, 2005; April 3, 2006, and March 21, 2007; and published in the Code of Federal Regulations October 1, 2007) [Oct. 01, 2007] PDF or Text
• Reserved sections of the NAGPRA regulations
• 43 CFR 10, Final Rule, Technical Amendment [Sep. 30, 2005] PDF
• 43 CFR 10.13, Future applicability Final Rule [Mar. 21, 2007] PDF or Text
  

Secretarial Orders

• Secretarial Order 3261 [Jul. 7, 2005] PDF

Summaries, Inventories, and Notices

• Summary and Inventory Overview PDF
• Cultural Affiliation PDF
• Federal Register Notice preparation
• Memorandum providing guidance on preparation of NAGPRA inventories [Apr. 27, 1995] PDF or Text

Excavations and Inadvertent Discoveries

• 43 CFR 10 Subpart B Overview (Excavations and Inadvertent Discoveries) PDF
• Inadvertent Discoveries on Tribal Lands - Overview PDF
• Inadvertent Discoveries on Federal Lands - Overview PDF
• Intentional Excavations on Tribal and Federal Lands - Overview PDF
• Priority of Custody/Ownership Flowchart [43 CFR 10.6 and 25 U.S.C. 3002(a)] PDF
• Cultural Affiliation PDF
• Plan of Action Checklist PDF
• Comprehensive Agreement Checklist PDF
• NAGPRA Section 3 and the Requirements of ARPA PDF
• Comparison of NAGPRA, ARPA, and NHPA Section 106 PDF

Consultation

• Native American Consultation Database for tribal NAGPRA contact information
• Bureau of Indian Affairs list of Federally Recognized Tribes (PDF) [Mar. 22, 2007]

Legislative and Regulatory History

• US House Report 101-877 [Oct. 15, 1990] PDF or Text
• US Senate Report 101-473 [Sep. 26, 1990] PDF or Text
• Proposed Regulations, 43 CFR 10 [May 28, 1993] PDF or Text
• Interim Civil Penalties Rule, 43 CFR 10.12 [Jan. 13, 1997] PDF or Text
• Correcting amendments to final regulations [Aug. 01, 1997] PDF or Text
• Final Civil Penalties Rule, 43 CFR 10.12 (includes preamble) [April 3, 2003] PDF or Text
• Correction to the Final Civil Penalties Rule [Jul. 3, 2003] PDF or Text

Congressional Oversight and Proposed Amendments

Senate

• May 10, 1993 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, S. Hrg 103-198 (Not available)
• Dec. 6, 1995 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, S. Hrg 104-356
• Jul. 30, 1996 Markup of S. 1983 (Not available)
• Apr. 20, 1999 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, Witness list
• Jul. 25, 2000 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, Witness list
• Sep. 9, 2002 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources regarding S. 2598, S. Hrg 107-258
• Oct. 11, 2004 Indian Affairs Committee regarding S. 2843, S. Hrg 108-406
• Dec. 8, 2004 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, S. Hrg 108-768
• May 12, 2005 Indian Affairs Committee regarding S. 536, S. Hrg 109-67
• Jul. 28, 2005 Indian Affairs Committee Oversight Hearing, Witness list

House of Representatives

• Jun. 10, 1998 Resources Committee regarding H.R. 2893, Witness list and NPS testimony