Overview
- BLM’s Bakersfield and Central Coast field offices issued draft supplemental environmental reviews covering more than 1 million acres across central and coastal California.
- The documents conclude emissions from oil and gas development would be “minor,” with limited effects on regional air quality, water resources and public health.
- The proposals revive onshore leasing first outlined in 2019 and revisited under 2022 settlements that required fresh analysis of drilling techniques including fracking and paused new leasing.
- Targeted areas include federal lands near Pinnacles National Park, Mount Diablo State Park, Henry W. Coe State Park and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
- Environmental groups say the analyses are inadequate and plan to contest them, as BLM takes comments through March 6 and aims to finalize the reviews in May.