NAGPRA Repatriations, OFAC Sanctions, and EPA Ozone Plan Move in Federal Register

NAGPRA Inventory Completion: Auburn University at Montgomery

Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), with repatriation authorized on or after October 23, 2026. The notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, though the National Park Service states it is not responsible for the determinations, which are the sole responsibility of AUM.

The inventory covers seven archaeological sites in Alabama's Elmore and Chilton/Elmore Counties, all excavated by David Chase and all housed in the AUM Archaeology Laboratory. At site 1EE56, near the Tallapoosa River in Elmore County, human remains representing at least one individual and five associated funerary objects — four pottery sherds and one lithic — were removed during a 1966 excavation. At site 1EE59 (the Johnson Site), also near the Tallapoosa River, remains representing at least two individuals were removed in 1978 along with 338 associated funerary objects, including 168 pottery sherds, 125 lithics, five faunal bone, 14 metal objects, one kettle pot, 24 glass sherds, and one lot of charred seeds. At site 1EE65, located south of the Coosa River along the Chilton-Elmore County border, remains of at least one individual and 100 associated funerary objects were removed at an unknown time. At site 1EE71 (Okchai), along the Coosa River in Elmore County, remains of at least one individual and eight associated funerary objects were removed in 1968. At site 1EE94 (Davis Valley Ranch Site), along the Alabama River in Elmore County, remains of at least one individual and 207 associated funerary objects were removed in 1968. At site 1EE141, along an abandoned river channel north of Jackson Lake in Elmore County, remains of at least three individuals and 44 associated funerary objects were removed during excavations in 1965 and 1968. At site 1EE180, north of the town of Millbrook, AL in Elmore County, remains of at least two individuals and 243 associated funerary objects were removed in 1980. The document states that no known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects across all sites.

NAGPRA Intended Repatriation: University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota has published a notice of intended repatriation for 40 lots of unassociated funerary objects, with repatriation also authorized on or after October 23, 2026. The 40 lots consist of lithic material, ground stone, ceramics, charcoal, soil samples, shell, faunal material, and historic material. According to the notice, these items were collected in Minnesota, Yellow Medicine County, by the Anthropology Department of the University of Minnesota in the 1940s; additionally, some items were donated to the University in 1970 by a local collector.

The University determined that the items are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains and are connected to death rites or ceremonies of a Native American culture, identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains or removed from a burial site culturally affiliated with an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. The University has determined a connection between the cultural items and the Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota. The document states that if competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of Minnesota must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation, and that requests for joint repatriation are considered a single request and not competing requests.

NAGPRA Intended Repatriation: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has published a notice of intended repatriation for three objects of cultural patrimony — one headdress frontlet, one raven rattle, and one halibut grease dish — with repatriation authorized on or after October 23, 2026. The VMFA has determined that all three items have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group and has identified a connection to the Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Island Reserve.

The notice provides detailed provenance histories for each item. The headdress frontlet, made of wood and abalone and dated to the 19th or early 20th century, was purchased by Robert and Nancy Nooter in 2007 from Alaska on Madison, a New York-based gallery, and accessioned into the VMFA collection in 2017; its provenance prior to 2007 is described as not currently known. The raven rattle, made of wood and pigment and dated to circa 1890, was acquired by Robert and Nancy Nooter in 2008 from Tambaran Gallery, a New York-based gallery, and was previously held in a private collection in Santa Fe, New Mexico; it was also accessioned into the VMFA collection in 2017. The halibut grease dish, made of carved and painted alder wood and made prior to 1943 according to museum records, was first acquired in May of 1943 by Axel Rasmussen, collector and former superintendent of schools in Wrangell, AK; following Rasmussen's death, the collection was dispersed and eventually purchased and reconstituted by dealer Earl Stendahl, who sold part of it to the Portland Art Museum in 1948 or 1949, which in turn sold the dish to the VMFA in 1955. Results of consultation with the Metlakatla Indian Community confirm that all three items are affiliated with the Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) people of the Metlakatla Indian Community and are not severable from the Ts'msyen people. The Metlakatla Indian Community further asserts that the VMFA does not have right of possession to the cultural items.

Treasury/OFAC: New SDN List Addition

On September 14, 2026, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) determined that the property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of one entity are blocked under the relevant sanctions authorities, specifically citing Executive Order 13902 as the governing authority. The action was taken by Bradley T. Smith, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control. As a result of the SDN List designation, all property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of the designated person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. OFAC states that the SDN List and additional information concerning OFAC sanctions programs are available on OFAC's website.

EPA Proposes to Approve North Carolina's Second Charlotte-Area Ozone Maintenance Plan

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ) on February 28, 2025. The proposal would incorporate North Carolina's second 10-year maintenance plan for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) into the SIP, covering the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina nonattainment area through 2035. The Charlotte Area, as defined in the submittal, includes all of Mecklenburg County and portions of Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, and Union Counties. The proposal also covers the 2018 and 2035 motor vehicle emission budgets for nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for the Charlotte Area, and EPA is notifying the public of the status of its adequacy determination for those sub-area budgets.

The document explains that EPA promulgated the revised 8-hour ozone NAAQS of 0.075 parts per million on March 12, 2008, with the standard attained when the 3-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ambient air quality ozone concentrations is less than or equal to 0.075 ppm. The bi-state Charlotte Area was designated nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS on May 21, 2012, effective July 20, 2012, using 2009-2011 ambient air quality data, and was classified as a marginal nonattainment area. The area's attainment date was set at July 20, 2015. In 2015, the Charlotte Area was redesignated to attainment, the first 10-year maintenance plan was approved, and EPA found the 2014 and 2026 sub-area budgets for NOX and VOC adequate. EPA states it is proposing to approve the current plan because it meets all applicable requirements under CAA sections 110 and 175A, and that the sub-area budgets meet the applicable transportation conformity requirements under 40 CFR 93.118(e). The proposed rule affects 40 CFR part 52.

What to Watch

• October 23, 2026: Repatriation of human remains and associated funerary objects from Auburn University at Montgomery may proceed on or after this date.
• October 23, 2026: Repatriation of 40 lots of unassociated funerary objects from the University of Minnesota may proceed on or after this date.
• October 23, 2026: Repatriation of three objects of cultural patrimony from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts may proceed on or after this date.
• October 23, 2026: Public comments on EPA's proposed ozone maintenance plan for the Charlotte-Rock Hill area must be received on or before this date.

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