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About GCA |
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Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority (GCA) is a non-tax-supported unit of local government dedicated to waste management activities. It was created by an act of the Texas Legislature in 1969 and began operation the following year. GCA’s primary area of jurisdiction and the area from which the Board of Directors is selected is comprised of Harris, Chambers and Galveston Counties. The Authority may provide services in any part of the State of Texas but coordinates its activities with any other authorities or districts in those areas, which may also be able to provide environmental assistance. The GCA Board of Directors is made up of nine members, three from each principal county. From each county, one member of the Board is appointed by the Governor, one by the Commissioners Court in that county, and the third by a consortium of the mayors in the county. The Board appoints a General Manager who has the statutory responsibility to implement policies set by the Board, employ and supervise employees, retain and direct consultants, administer financial affairs and direct the day-to-day operation of the organization. Authority employment generally ranges from 175 to 200 positions. About one-fourth of these employees hold degrees and many others are professionally certified. The staff includes engineers, biologists, chemists, accountants, administrators, operation and maintenance personnel and clerical support. Outside legal and financial advisors are also retained. GCA is authorized by Statute to build, acquire, own and operate waste treatment facilities and related appurtenances. It has the power of eminent domain, taxation (never exercised), regulation, rate setting and other activities commonly vested in local governments. The Authority, to accomplish its objectives, can receive gifts and grants and issue bonds to finance waste disposal projects. It has the power to contract with other public agencies as well as with private parties for periods of up to 50 years. It is a wholly self-supporting organization, which is funded by fees charged for services provided. GCA owns and/or operates four industrial wastewater treatment facilities that process liquid wastes from more than 60 manufacturing (largely petrochemical) plants. These plants are located along the Houston Ship Channel, in the Bayport Industrial District, in the Texas City area and in the Odessa Industrial Complex in West Texas. Primarily a collection station for businesses that handle portable toilet wastes, the Vince Bayou Station has expanded its efforts and also accepts trucked in wastewater from pre-approved industries. The Authority also owns and/or operates municipal wastewater treatment facilities, including the Blackhawk Regional WWTP, which provides tertiary treatment and ultraviolet light disinfection. This area of the Authority also provides sludge management services from dredging to dewatering to disposal. The Technical Services staff provides in-house engineering and other technical support. If requested, the experience and expertise of this group may be made available to GCA-associated districts and industries. Central Laboratory joined the GCA family of services in 1991. The skilled technicians and sophisticated equipment available at Central Lab offer a wide range of analytical capabilities that are utilized by both GCA and associated districts and industry. Dedication to quality assurance/quality control provides reliable results for process control and for regulatory reporting. An outgrowth of staff’s continuing interest in responsible environmental management has been an increasing effort to provide education programs that introduce the public, and especially school children, to environmental concerns and solutions. The program includes distribution of classroom teaching materials, environmental demonstrations, participation in such events as Bay Day and recycling fairs and presentations before various groups and organizations. Of special note is the Authority’s cooperation in the creation of the new environmental teaching center at Sheldon Lake State Park and its serving as coordinator for the regional annual "Trash Bash" cleanup. A major activity over GCA’s 30 years of existence is the issuance of bonds to provide financing for pollution control projects. The Authority has issued bonds totaling more than $2 billion for air and water pollution control facilities and solid waste disposal sites. In many of these fundings the Authority has entered into supplemental service agreements for operational assistance, facilities inspection, lab analysis, compliance, evaluation, planning, research and development and educational support. |