2024-28492. Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forests in Florida, Tallahassee, FL

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039136; 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, National Forests in Florida (National Forests in Florida) 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 January 6, 2025. If no claim for disposition is received by December 5, 2025, the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice will become unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects.

ADDRESSES:

Ivan Green, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in Florida, 325 John Knox Road, Bldg F, Suite 210, Tallahassee, FL 32303, 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 National Forests in Florida, and additional information on the human remains or cultural items 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

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, one individual have been reasonably identified. The 586 associated funerary objects are faunal remains, shell, lithic debitage, pottery sherds, and bone tools. In June 2011, human remains were identified during documentation of materials removed in late 2009 and early 2010 during interagency emergency salvage excavations at Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest, Marion County, Florida.

Determinations

The National Forests in Florida has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The 586 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 Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma have priority for disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

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 December 5, 2025, 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 December 5, 2025. If competing claims for disposition are received, the National Forests in Florida must determine the most appropriate ( print page 96671) 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 National Forests in Florida 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: November 22, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.