Voluntary Cleanup Program

• VCP Mission
• Legal Authority
• VCP Publications and Forms
  • VCP Success Stories
  • VCP Guidance Documents
  • Application Form
  • Agreement Form
  • Examples of Certificates
• VCP Database

The Texas VCP provides administrative, technical, and legal incentives to encourage the cleanup of contaminated sites in Texas. Since all non-responsible parties, including future lenders and landowners, receive protection from liability to the state of Texas for cleanup of sites under the VCP, most of the constraints for completing real estate transactions at those sites are eliminated. As a result, many unused or under used properties may be restored to economically productive or community beneficial use. Also under the VCP, site cleanups follow a streamlined approach to reduce future human and environmental risk to safe levels.

Any site not subject to response actions under Railroad Commission of Texas authority or an order or permit from the TCEQ or where TCEQ enforcement action is pending, is eligible to enter the voluntary cleanup program. Parties entering the VCP must submit an application, an Affected Property Assessment Report describing the contaminated area of concern, and a $1,000 application fee. Upon acceptance of the application, the applicant must sign an agreement that describes a schedule of events necessary to achieve cleanup and confirms that the applicant has agreed to pay all VCP oversight costs. After completion of the cleanup,the parties will receive a certificate of completion from the TCEQ, which states that all non-responsible parties are released from all liability to the state for cleanup of areas covered by the certificate. Parties may terminate their participation in the VCP at any time by written notice.

If you have any comments or questions, please e-mail us at vcp@tceq.texas.gov

Through May 2012 the VCP has accepted 2,323 applications representing dry cleaners, manufacturing facilities, shopping centers, warehouses, auto-related businesses and other commercial and industrial enterprises. Of these sites, 1,570 have been issued final certificates of completion and 167 have received conditional certificates of completion.

• Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 361, Sec. 361.602
• 30 Texas Administrative Code §333 - VCP
• 30 Texas Administrative Code §350 - Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) effective September 23, 1999 (24TexReg7415).
• VCP Statute - HB 2296, 74th Legislature

VCP Publications and Forms

Read about sites that have successfully cleaned up and been put back into business on our Success Stories web page!

The following documents are provided in PDF (Help with PDF);

• Memorandum of Agreement between EPA and TCEQ (PDF) Supports and defines the roles and responsibilities of the EPA and TCEQ (then TNRCC) with respect to activities conducted under the authority of the TCEQ VCP.
• CORE Data Form (TCEQ Form No. 10400) You MUST fill out this form in order to be accepted into the VCP. Complete this form to maintain Central Registry database information and fulfill VCP application requirements. Please submit an updated version of this form to Central Records and the VCP whenever contact information for the applicant changes.Instructions to assist you in completing the CORE Data Form (TCEQ Form No. 10400)
• The Correspondence ID Form (TCEQ Form 20428) must accompany all correspondence submitted to all Remediation Division cleanup programs and should be affixed to the front of your submittal as a cover page on or after June 1, 2010. Before completing the form, be sure to read the Correspondence ID form instructions.
• VCP Application Form and Instructions (TCEQ Form No. 10241 - Revised October 2007) Complete this form to request assistance and review from VCP staff pursuant to §361.604 of the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act. Please also complete CORE Data Form (TCEQ Form No. 10400) in order to complete application requirements.
• Amended VCP Application Form and Instructions Complete this form for any amendments to VCP applications already in the program. Please refer to the Application Instructions on how to complete any amended applications
• VCP Agreement Form (TCEQ Form No. 10242 - Revised April 2009) The agreement form includes the applicable rules, regulations and schedules to be followed.
• Brownfields Tax Deduction Form Use this form for assistance in receiving a Brownfields tax deduction.

• Example Certificates:
• Conditional Certificate: This is an example of the certificate that certifies an applicant has demonstrated that long-term response actions (e.g. engineering controls, remediation systems, or post-closure institutional controls) meet performance standards and are being implemented under requirements established in the Texas Voluntary Cleanup Program.
• Final Certificate: This is an example of the certificate from the TCEQ that certifies an applicant has implemented or completed all requirements of the Texas Voluntary Cleanup Agreement.
• Final Certificate with MSD: This is an example of the final certificate reliant upon a Municipal Settings Designation certificate.

VCP Database

Search TCEQ's Central Registry for information about specific sites or programs.

The database contains relevant information on sites in the VCP. This file and the database, vcpdb.zip, can be downloaded as a zipped file. The file is in Microsoft Excel format. For downloading help, link to Compressed Files. The file is revised at the end of each month.

If you have any questions about how to download this database, please contact Diana Christiano at 512-239-5696.