News Release

Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Date: February 19, 2026
Contact: Public Information Officer

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The National Park Service announced its finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for a project to raise and rehabilitate the failing seawalls at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.  

In June 2025, NPS released an environmental assessment that analyzes the raising and rehabilitation of the seawalls. Funded by the 2023 Disaster Supplement bill, this project aims to repair damage from storms and enhance resiliency to create an optimal visitor experience and improve safety while minimizing potential impacts on natural and cultural resources. 

The current conditions of the existing seawall sections range from fair to poor condition. By raising and repairing the seawalls, this project aims to not only protect the historic and cultural resources of the park but also aid in flood prevention and resiliency for the City of St. Augustine and the historic downtown.  
 
The FONSI, approved by the NPS regional director for Interior Region 2 on January 9, 2026, describes the selected action and explains why the plan will have no significant effects on the natural, cultural, or human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement will not be prepared. Alternative 2, the preferred alternative, was selected.   
 
The public can view the FONSI and other project materials at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/seawall.
 
The NPS receives disaster supplement funding from Congress to help with the costs of natural disasters. In 2023, the omnibus funding bill included $1.5 billion in supplemental disaster funding for the NPS to help parks affected by recent natural disasters. The funding is intended to cover the costs of repairing and rebuilding ecosystems, infrastructure, and historically significant structures. It also aims to provide resiliency funds to better protect national park sites and communities, and to ensure that national parks are built to withstand future storms.