Notice of Inventory Completion: Alabama Department of Transportation, Montgomery, AL Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Melanie O'Brien Date: 15 December 2022 Subjects: American Government , Roads & Highways Topic: Interstate Highway System

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76642-76643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27179]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035009; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alabama Department of 
Transportation, Montgomery, AL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has completed 
an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations and has determined that 
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-
day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants 
or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains should submit a written request to ALDOT. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or

[[Page 76643]]

Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to ALDOT at 
the address in this notice by January 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: William B. Turner, Alabama Department of Transportation, 
1409 Coliseum Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36110, telephone (334) 242-6144, 
email turnerw@dot.state.al.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under 
the control of the Alabama Department of Transportation, Montgomery, 
AL. The human remains were removed from Baldwin County, AL.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Alabama 
Department of Transportation and the University of Alabama professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    During the summer of 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, 
10 individuals were removed from the D'Olive Creek site, 1Ba196, in 
Baldwin County, AL. Burials were removed by University of Alabama 
archeologists under contract to ALDOT during Phase III Data Recovery 
excavations conducted prior to construction of Interstate 10 across 
Mobile Bay, near the city of Daphne. In 1975, the collection was 
obtained by University of Alabama in 1975, and in 2022, ALDOT assumed 
control. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects were recovered.
    The D'Olive Creek site, 1Ba196, is a shell midden occupied during 
the Late Woodland and Mississippian periods. Some evidence of European 
contact is indicated by possible French trade artifacts. Cultural 
affiliation of these human remains with The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma 
is based on the location of their discovery and the time periods 
represented by the artifacts recovered from the site.

Determinations Made by the Alabama Department of Transportation

    Officials of the Alabama Department of Transportation have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to William 
B. Turner, Alabama Department of Transportation, 1409 Coliseum Blvd., 
Montgomery, AL 36110, telephone (334) 242-6144, email 
turnerw@dot.state.al.us, by January 17, 2023. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Alabama Department of Transportation is responsible for 
notifying The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: December 7, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-27179 Filed 12-14-22; 8:45 am]
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