The Texas General Land Office is the management agency for state lands and mineral rights totaling 20.4 million acres. This includes vast properties in West Texas, the Gulf Coast beaches and bays and other "submerged" lands extending 10.3 miles out from the shoreline, a variety of state agency acreage and timber lands in East Texas. While these state lands offer ample economic opportunities, the GLO is also mindful of the importance of protecting the natural resources found in such varied geographic regions. The General Land Office leases state land for a variety of purposes, including oil and gas production, commercial development, and sustainable energy development. Much of the state land leases benefit the Available School Fund, an endowment fund for public school education in Texas