BAKERSFIELD, Calif., June 25 (Our California Times) — The Bureau of Land Management has approved updates that will let it resume oil and gas leasing on federal public lands in California’s Central Coast region, the agency said after completing a supplemental environmental review and a December 2022 settlement agreement.
The decision covers public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, plus portions of Fresno, Merced and San Joaquin counties, the BLM said. The agency said the move is consistent with Secretary’s Order 3418, which supports expanding domestic energy opportunities.
A separate BLM planning notice has also included San Luis Obispo County in a Bakersfield Field Office review of oil and gas leasing across parts of Central California.
The agency did not say when new leases could be offered or whether any wells would follow.
