BAKERSFIELD, Calif., June 25 (Our California Times) — The Bureau of Land Management has approved oil and gas management updates for California’s Central Coast, clearing the agency to resume leasing on federal public lands after a supplemental environmental review.
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 agency said in an announcement.
BLM said the action fulfills a December 2022 settlement agreement and is consistent with Secretary’s Order 3418, which the agency said supports federal direction to expand domestic energy opportunities.
Separately, BLM is taking public comment through July 23 on a supplemental environmental impact statement and possible resource-management-plan amendment for the Bakersfield Field Office, a review area that includes San Luis Obispo County along with parts of eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties.
The agency did not say in the announcement when any lease sales would be scheduled or whether drilling would follow.
