Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [N7491; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043742; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after October 16, 2026. ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Sean Walker, California State University, Fullerton, 2600 Nutwood Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831, email SWALKER@FULLERTON.EDU. 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 California State University, Fullerton, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. Abstract of Information Available A total of 42 cultural items/lots have been requested for repatriation. In 1982, a private donor transferred cultural items she had personally collected over the course of 20 years at CA-SBA-205, Jalama Beach, to CSUF. The seven unassociated funerary objects from this location are one lot of faunal bone, one lot of miscellaneous lithics (cores, debitage, manos, beach stones), one lot of shell beads, one pestle, one lot of shell and shell fragments, one lot of asphaltum, and one lot of historic material. The four unassociated funerary objects from site CA-SLO-393, Arroyo Grande, are thought to be the result of subsurface testing conducted by Cogstone Resource Management in 2005 under the direction of the late Sherri Gust. The four unassociated funerary objects are one lot of faunal bone, one lot of miscellaneous lithics, one lot of soil and charcoal, and one lot of shell and shell fragments. In 2000-2003, archaeological excavations were conducted by Cultural Resources Management Services (CRMS) at various recorded archaeological sites on the Santa Ysabel Ranch near Paso Robles, CA. Excavations were undertaken at CA-SLO-1492, CA-SLO-2076, CA-SLO-2079, CA-SLO-2080, CA-SLO-2082, CA-SLO-2083, CA-SLO-2086, and CA-SLO-2087. The 30 objects of cultural patrimony from these sites are five lots of cores, chunks, cobbles, and hammerstones; three lots of groundstone and groundstone fragments; eight lots of debitage; four lots of chipped stone tools; four lots of shell and shell fragments; three lots of faunal bone and bone fragments; two lots of historic materials; and one lot of quartz crystal. The cultural material is thought to have been brought to CSUF for use as teaching material. In 1983, one object of cultural patrimony, a stone point, was donated to CSUF by Charles Ruby, a private collector. A paper label affixed to the point indicates that it was found in a canyon in Santa Barbara County. Determinations California State University, Fullerton has determined that: • The 11 unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • The 31 lots of objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California. Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 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. Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, California State University, Fullerton must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. California State University, Fullerton is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 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. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9. Dated: September 10, 2026. Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2026-18972 Filed 9-15-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P