Who has the authority to make determinations about land vacancies?

The General Land Office (GLO) in Texas is the authority responsible for managing state lands and overseeing their use and disposition. This includes making determinations about land vacancies, which involves assessing public land, processing leases, and overseeing land sales or other transactions. The GLO plays a critical role in ensuring that state-owned lands are managed effectively and that any vacancies are handled according to statutory guidelines and regulations.

In contrast, the School Land Board, while also involved in land management, specifically focuses on the management of designated school lands in the state and does not have overall authority over all land vacancies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deals primarily with oceanic and atmospheric data and does not have jurisdiction over land vacancy issues. The local County Clerk manages county-level records, including land transactions, but does not hold the authority to make determinations specifically regarding land vacancies at the state level. Thus, the correct choice reflects the GLO's specific role in managing land vacancies within Texas.