U. S. Department of Homeland Security

Region 4

3005 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta, GA 30341

Public Notice

Regarding the Section 106 Review Under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Adverse Effects for the Construction of Lift Station #21 during the Repair and Flood Mitigation of 13 Lift Stations Project

[City of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida] FEMA Public Assistance (FEMA PA)

Seeking Public Comment

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to provide funding to the City of St. Augustine for the construction and elevation of Lift Station #21 during the “Thirteen (13) Lift Stations” repair and flood mitigation project using FEMA Public Assistance (PA) funds associated with damages incurred from the presidentially declared disaster, Hurricane Matthew (DR‐4283‐FL) in 2016. As a part of compliance responsibilities under regulations 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 800, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires federal agencies, including FEMA, to identify and consider the potential effects of its actions on historic properties through a collaborative framework for seeking and considering the views of the public on how potential adverse effects on historic properties result from a proposed Federal action which should be addressed.

Responsible Entity: FEMA Public Assistance

Applicant: City of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida

Project Title(s): PA‐04‐FL‐4283‐PW‐00246(1), SAFRM03 ‐ THIRTEEN (13) LIFT STATIONS

Proposed Work:

As proposed, the above project constitutes an Adverse Effect to Historic Properties under 36 CFR

§ 800.5(a)(1) for the impact to the viewshed by the elevation of Lift Station #21 out of the floodplain, located at 1 Ocean Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida 32084, (GPS Coordinates: 29.905474, ‐81.314859). The lift station is within the viewshed of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)‐eligible Nombre de Dios cemetery. FEMA, in consultation with the Florida State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), interested Tribes, and other consulting parties, are in coordination to resolve any adverse effects of the Federal Undertaking as per Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). By the proposed mitigation of the adverse effects through an agreement between FEMA and the City of St. Augustine, the city will create a vegetative barrier using native plants to reduce the visual impact of the lift station on the Nombre de Dios Cemetery.

Public Comments: Any member of the public is encouraged to provide views on how the project may affect historic properties and the ways these effects may be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. To help develop a course of action for this project, FEMA is requesting your input within 15 days of the date of this notice.

Interested persons may submit comments, questions or request a map of this specific project should be sent in writing using he subject line, ‘DR‐4283‐FL PW 246, City of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida’ via:

Mail to:    FEMA‐ Region‐4 EHP

3005 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta GA, 30341

Email to:    fema‐r4ehp106@fema.dhs.gov

POSTED ON: 9/05/2023