BAKERSFIELD, Calif., June 25 (Our California Times) — The Bureau of Land Management has approved oil and gas management updates that let the agency resume leasing on public lands in California’s Central Coast region, following a supplemental environmental impact statement 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, along with portions of Fresno, Merced and San Joaquin counties, according to the agency. The BLM did not give a county-by-county acreage tally in its announcement.
BLM said the action is consistent with Secretary’s Order 3418, which the agency says supports federal direction to expand domestic energy opportunities.
The agency has also been reviewing a separate Bakersfield Field Office area that includes San Luis Obispo County, according to agency public-comment materials.
