2025-01168. Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Springerville, AZ

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039356; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests intends to carry out the disposition of human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after February 18, 2025. If no claim for disposition is received by January 20, 2026, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects.

ADDRESSES:

Robert Lever, Forest Supervisor, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, 30 S. Chiricahua Drive, Springerville, AZ 85938, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, and additional information on the human remains and associated funerary objects 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

Ancestral remains were discovered in 2016 during monitoring of a previously recorded site, Greenlee County, Arizona. Based on the information available, the fragmented ancestral remains represent, at least, one individual being reasonably identified. The approximately 52 associated funerary objects are four groundstone, three flakes, one piece of fossil coral, and 44 ceramics having a Mogollon affiliation.

Determinations

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The 52 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.
• The Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico have priority for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice based on cultural affiliation.

Claims for Disposition

Written claims for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 20, ( print page 5999) 2026, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects. 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, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they have priority for disposition.

Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after February 18, 2025. If competing claims for disposition are received, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests must determine the most appropriate claimant prior to disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 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 13, 2025.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.