Army Corps Hands Back Ancient Soil to Native Tribes
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco and the University of California, Riverside plan to return 33 cultural items, mostly soil and charcoal samples, to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. These items were collected during a dam project and will be repatriated starting December 17, 2025. This respectful return honors cultural connections and involves careful coordination between agencies and tribes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 33 Cultural Items
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (San Francisco) and the University of California, Riverside intend to return 33 cultural items — all soil and charcoal samples — to affiliated Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. The repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025, and the notice identifies affiliation with the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, California; and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California.
How to Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for these items to the named representatives; requests must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the requester is a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Send requests to Dr. Stephanie Bergman Sahinoglu, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, and to Ms. Megan Murphy, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92517-5900; competing requests will be resolved by the USACE San Francisco District and UCR, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in