CIn a Monday, June 24, 2019 photo, lumps of sargassum are scattered on the beach near 8 Mile Road in Galveston, Texas. Galveston Park Board trustees on Tuesday agreed to let homeowner associations clear some beaches amid excessive seaweed this summer. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)

CIn a Monday, June 24, 2019 photo, lumps of sargassum are scattered on the beach near 8 Mile Road in Galveston, Texas. Galveston Park Board trustees on Tuesday agreed to let homeowner associations clear some beaches amid excessive seaweed this summer. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — Residential property groups will be allowed to remove seaweed from some Southeast Texas beaches but must abide by guidelines to protect the environment.

The Galveston County Daily News reports Galveston Park Board trustees Tuesday agreed to let homeowner associations clear some beaches amid excessive seaweed this summer. Associations will be allowed to use the board’s federal permit and must abide by certain conditions to protect the sand and make sure sea turtles are not harmed.

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The board last summer revoked allowing third-party contractors to operate heavy equipment for seaweed removal after an environmental group objected.

Tuesday’s agreement means homeowner associations can remove seaweed using mechanized equipment when a certain percentage of beach is covered. Such cleaning won’t be allowed on weekends or after noon on holidays.

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Information from: The Galveston County Daily News, http://www.galvnews.com