---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3053"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3053"
heading: "Reburial of human remains and cultural items"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3053"
units:
  - "Chapter 32A — Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority"
---

# §3053. Reburial of human remains and cultural items

- (a) **Reburial sites—** In consultation with an affected [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3052.md?p=5) or [lineal descendant](/usc/25/3052.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) may authorize the use of [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7) land by the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3052.md?p=5) or [lineal descendant](/usc/25/3052.md?p=6) for the reburial of [human remains](/usc/25/3052.md?p=3) or [cultural items](/usc/25/3052.md?p=2) in the possession of the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3052.md?p=5) or [lineal descendant](/usc/25/3052.md?p=6) that have been disinterred from [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7) land or an [adjacent site](/usc/25/3052.md?p=1).
- (b) **Reburial—** With the consent of the affected [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3052.md?p=5) or lineal descendent, the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) may recover and rebury, at Federal expense or using other available funds, [human remains](/usc/25/3052.md?p=3) and [cultural items](/usc/25/3052.md?p=2) described in [subsection (a)](#a) at the [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7) land identified under that subsection.
- (c) **Authorization of use—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#c-2), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) may authorize such uses of [reburial sites](/usc/25/3052.md?p=8) on [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7) land, or on the [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7) land immediately surrounding a [reburial site](/usc/25/3052.md?p=8), as the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) determines to be necessary for management of the [National Forest System](/usc/25/3052.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Avoidance of adverse impacts—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) shall avoid adverse impacts to [cultural items](/usc/25/3052.md?p=2) and [human remains](/usc/25/3052.md?p=3), to the maximum extent practicable.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8103, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1287; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8103, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2049.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

### Definition of “Secretary”

“Secretary” as meaning the Secretary of Agriculture, see section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.