The National Park Service is proposing changes to the regulations regarding curation of federally-owned and administered archeological collections. The rule, if adopted, would establish definitions, standards, and procedures to dispose of particular material remains that are determined to be of insufficient archaeological interest. There is not currently a defined process for disposition of such materials.
The draft rule would apply to artifacts, objects, specimens, and other physical evidence, including human remains, of a historic or prehistoric resource and of historic or prehistoric cultures. It would not impact any material remains regulated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Public comment on the draft rule will be accepted until 17 February 2015. For more information, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-18/html/2014-26839.htm.