2023-21839. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee; Notice of Public Meetings

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Meeting notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Committee) will hold two virtual meetings as indicated below.

DATES:

The Committee will meet via teleconference on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 2 p.m. until approximately 6 p.m. (eastern). All meetings are open to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Melanie O'Brien, Designated Federal Officer, National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program (2253), National Park Service, telephone [phone], or email [e-mail].

Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Committee was established in section 8 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA). Information about NAGPRA, the Committee, and Committee meetings is available on the National NAGPRA Program website at https://www.nps.gov/​subjects/​nagpra/​review-committee.htm.

The Committee is responsible for monitoring the NAGPRA inventory and identification process; reviewing and making findings related to the identity or cultural affiliation of cultural items, or the return of such items; facilitating the resolution of disputes; compiling an inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains that are in the possession or control of each Federal agency and museum, and recommending specific actions for developing a process for disposition of such human remains; consulting with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations and museums on matters affecting such Tribes or organizations lying within the scope of work of the Committee; consulting with the Secretary of the Interior on the development of regulations to carry out NAGPRA; and making recommendations regarding future care of repatriated cultural items. The Committee's work is carried out during the course of meetings that are open to the public.

The agenda for the meeting may include a report from the National NAGPRA Program; the discussion of the Review Committee Report to Congress; subcommittee reports and discussion; and other topics related to the Committee's responsibilities under section 8 of NAGPRA. In addition, the agenda may include requests to the Committee for a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native American human remains proceed; presentations by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, associations, and individuals; and public comment. The agenda and materials for this meeting will be posted on or before October 16, 2023, at https://www.nps.gov/​orgs/​1335/​events.htm.

To submit a request or comment, see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . Information on joining the meeting by internet or telephone will be available on the National NAGPRA Program website at https://www.nps.gov/​orgs/​1335/​events.htm.

Meeting Accessibility: Please make requests in advance for sign language interpreter services, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodations. We ask that you contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting to give the Department of the Interior sufficient time to process your request. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case-by-case basis.

Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Authority: 5 U.S.C. ch. 10; 25 U.S.C. 3006.

Alma Ripps,

Chief, Office of Policy.