AUSTIN - The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with Calhoun County officials and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to offer local coastal Texans the opportunity to remove inoperable and derelict vessels through the Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), free of charge. Designed to provide owners with a voluntary method of disposal, interested boat owners are encouraged to participate if the vessel is less than 26 feet long, with longer boats being accepted on a case by case basis. The vessel must be delivered to the Calhoun County Recycling Center between Aug. 15-17, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
"Abandoned and derelict vessels have long plagued the Texas coast, threatening public safety, navigation and our environment," said Land Commissioner George P. Bush. "Removing abandoned or sunken vessels can be hazardous and expensive for the State of Texas. The Vessel Turn-In Program provides local boat owners a voluntary method to dispose of their run-down vessels in a safe, environmentally-conscious manner and saves tax dollars on a net basis."
Date and time: Aug. 15-17, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Drop-off location: Calhoun County Recycling Center, 900 Landfill Rd, Port Lavaca, TX 77979
Calhoun County contacts:
Precinct 1 Commissioner David Hall - (361) 552-9242
Precinct 2 Commissioner Vern Lyssy - (361) 552-9656
Thus far the GLO has conducted seven VTIP collections in Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda counties. In February, the VTIP made program history at the Brazoria County site with a record-breaking 75 boats turned-in totaling 1,327 feet. This brought the combined distance of the length of disposed boats to 5,503.5 feet, which is more than a mile of derelict boats! The total estimated cost savings to the state to remove these vessels if abandoned in coastal waters is approximately $1.1 million.
The Texas GLO and TPWD will verify the vessel (boat) qualifies for disposal. Potential participants may contact the GLO or the County Commissioners listed above with questions or to pre-register a drop off at (361) 552-8081.
Background - Texas GLO's Oil Spill Prevention and Response
Working with petroleum and commercial fishing industries, U.S. Coast Guard and the public, Oil Spill Prevention and Response staff support educational opportunities, daily water and shore patrols and firehouse-ready response teams to prevent and immediately address environmental problems - because even the smallest spill can endanger Texas' precious natural resources. Abandoned vessels can leak fluids into coastal waters that can be harmful for the wetland environment, wildlife and humans. With hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil and petroleum products passing through ports, bays and beaches along the Texas Gulf annually, the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response team is on call 24/7, ensuring oil stays out of Texas coastal waters.
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