Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Office, Gila District Office, Safford Field Office, Stafford, AZ
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Bureau of Land Management’s Safford Field Office in Arizona plans to return human remains and a funerary object found in 1998 to the rightful Native American tribe or descendants. If no one claims them by January 20, 2026, these remains will be considered unclaimed. This process starts February 18, 2025, and ensures respect for Native American heritage while following the law.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
BLM will return Human Remains
The Bureau of Land Management (Safford Field Office) intends to return human remains (one individual) and one associated funerary object (an animal bone fragment) to lineal descendants or an Indian Tribe with priority. The BLM may carry out this disposition on or after February 18, 2025.
Deadline to Claim or Be Deemed Unclaimed
If no written claim for disposition is received by January 20, 2026, the human remains and funerary object will be considered unclaimed. The notice sets January 20, 2026 as the cutoff date for claims.
Tribes Listed with Priority for Disposition
The notice names tribes with priority for disposition: Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Hopi Tribe; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; San Carlos Apache Tribe; and the Tohono O'odham Nation. Those named tribes have priority to receive the remains and funerary object.
Who May Submit Claims for Disposition
Written claims may be submitted by any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe organization identified in the notice, and by any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe not identified who can show by a preponderance of the evidence that they have priority. Claims must be sent to the BLM Safford Field Office contact listed in the notice.
Rules for Competing and Joint Claims
If competing claims for disposition are received, the BLM Safford Field Office must decide which claimant is most appropriate before disposition. Requests for joint disposition are considered a single request and not competing requests.
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