AUSTIN — The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), and the Brazoria County Fire Fighters Association (BCFFA) to offer county residents 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 maybe delivered to the drop off point January 29 - February 1, 2018, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

"The Vessel Turn-In Program is proud to provide local boat owners a voluntary method to dispose of their run-down vessels in a safe, environmentally-conscious manner," said Land Commissioner George P. Bush. "We want to spread the word: Never abandon or sink a vessel to dispose of it. Not only does it pose an environmental and navigational hazard, it's also illegal. Removing abandoned or sunken vessels can be hazardous to the safety of others and expensive for the State of Texas. We want to encourage folks to take advantage of this four-day VTIP in Brazoria County."

Vessel Turn-In Program Hours:
January 29 - February 1, 2018 - 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Drop-off locations:
Brazoria County Precinct 1
Commissioner Dude Payne
1432 Highland Park
Clute, Texas
(979) 265-3953

Brazoria County Precinct 4
Commissioner David Linder
121 North 10th St.
West Columbia, Texas 77486
(979) 345-1130

Those interested in participating in this program and for further information please contact the GLO between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (281) 470-6597.

TPWD will verify the vessel (boat) qualifies for disposal. Verification of ownership and a Release of Interest and Ownership must be completed and provided to the VTIP agency. The title must be free of any loan balances, liens, and/or taxes. BCFFA will sponsor the removal of all hazardous materials (fuel, oil, and batteries), while Brazoria County will transport vessel to landfill for disposal. Boat must be clear of waste and debris. Potential participants may contact the GLO with questions at (281) 470-6597. Para instrucciones en español, llame al (281) 470-6597.

Working with petroleum and commercial fishing industries, U.S. Coast Guard and the general 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.

Background - Texas GLO's Oil Spill Prevention and Response
The oldest state agency in Texas, the GLO was formed to determine who owned what and where after the Texians and Tejanos won independence. Today the General Land Office manages state lands, operates the Alamo, helps Texans recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans, and manages the vast Texas coast. 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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