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Questions or Comments: vcp@tceq.texas.gov

Voluntary Cleanup Program

The Texas VCP provides administrative, technical, and legal incentives to encourage the cleanup of contaminated sites in Texas

VCP Mission

The Texas VCP provides administrative, technical, and legal incentives to encourage the cleanup of contaminated sites in Texas. The VCP is a brownfields program designed to address sites that are burdened by real or reasonably perceived environmental issues that may hamper real estate transactions or redevelopment. 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 once a VCP certificate of completion is issued. As a result, many unused or under used properties may be restored to economically productive or community beneficial use.

Parties entering the VCP must submit an application, a $1,000 application fee, CORE Data Form, and any previously prepared reports pertaining to the site. At the time of the application, or within 30 days of the date of acceptance of the VCP application, the applicant(s) must sign an agreement that describes a schedule of submittals necessary to achieve cleanup and confirms that the applicant has agreed to pay all VCP oversight costs. After completion of attainment of the remedy standard, a certificate of completion will be issued by 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 August 2020, the VCP has received over 2,900 applications representing dry cleaners, manufacturing facilities, shopping centers, warehouses, auto-related businesses, and other commercial and industrial enterprises. The VCP has issued over 2,400 certificates of completion.

Legal Authority

Property Tax Abatement Incentives

Please refer to Section 312.211 of the Texas Tax Code for information on local tax abatement incentives.

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);

The submittal of a Drinking Water Survey Report is required when contaminants are detected in groundwater at concentrations exceeding residential health-based drinking water standards as set forth in the TCEQ rules that govern the cleanup of the contamination (e.g., 30 TAC Chapter 334 or Chapter 350), or if requested by the TCEQ. Information concerning the preparation of a Drinking Water Survey Report appears online at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pdw_survey_reports. If this report has not yet been submitted at the time of the application, please include it in the documents submitted with the application

  • 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 General Site Information Spreadsheet

This spreadsheet contains general and historical information on sites that have participated in the VCP and is updated at least semi-annually. Please search TCEQ's Central Registry for more detailed current information about specific sites.