Notice of Inventory Completion: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, 57473-57474 [2023-18133]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57473-57474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18133]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0036433; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Vassar College has completed an inventory of 
human remains and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and any Indian Tribe. The human remains were 
removed from unknown geographic locations.

DATES: Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after September 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Brian Daly, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, 
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, telephone (845) 437-5310, email 
[email protected].

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 Vassar 
College. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice. Additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the inventory or related records held by Vassar 
College.

Description

    Human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were 
removed from unknown geographic locations. During the 1920s, the human 
remains (7; 8; 9; 14; 24) were acquired by Vassar College's Natural 
History and Social Museums. After the museums dissolved in the 1960s, 
the human remains were acquired by the Anthropology and Biology 
Departments. Human remains located in the Biology and Anthropology 
Department teaching collections were examined for visual and 
statistical markers of Native American affinities, with results 
reported on December 21, 2020. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.16, the Secretary of the Interior may make a 
recommendation for a transfer of control of the culturally 
unidentifiable human remains. In June of 2023, Vassar College requested 
that the Review Committee consider a proposal to transfer control of 
the human remains in this notice to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe 
of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. The Review 
Committee, acting pursuant to its responsibility under 25 U.S.C. 
3006(c)(5), considered the request at its June 2023 meeting and 
recommended to the Secretary that the proposed transfer of control 
proceed. A July 2023 letter on behalf of the Secretary of Interior from 
the Designated Federal Official transmitted the Secretary's independent 
review and concurrence with the Review Committee that:
     Vassar College consulted with every appropriate Indian 
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization,
     None of the consulted and notified Indian Tribes and 
Native Hawaiian organizations objected to the proposed transfer of 
control, and
     Vassar College may proceed with the agreed upon transfer 
of control of the culturally unidentifiable human remains to the 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.
    Transfer of control is contingent on the publication of a Notice of 
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that 
requirement.

Determinations

    Officials of Vassar College have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on biological evidence.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of five individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian Tribe.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.10(g)(2) and 10.16, the disposition 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

Request for Disposition

    Written requests for disposition of the human remains in this 
notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in 
ADDRESSES. Requests for disposition may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes 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 the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization, or who shows that the requestor is an aboriginal land 
Indian Tribe.
    Disposition of the human remains described in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after September 22, 2023. If competing 
requests for disposition are received, Vassar College must determine 
the most appropriate requestor prior to disposition. Requests for joint 
disposition of the human remains are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. Vassar College is responsible for sending a 
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9 and 
10.11.


[[Page 57474]]


    Dated: August 16, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-18133 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
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