ACTION ALERT: Stop New Oil and Gas Drilling in Central California & the San Joaquin Valley
We are asking all members to take immediate action on two major federal oil and gas expansion proposals that directly threaten California’s climate, water security, biodiversity, and public health. Both proposals are currently in Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) stage and open for public comment. The deadline to comment on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) - Central Coast Field Office Proposal and the BLM Bakersfield Field Office Proposal is March 13, 2026.
Why This Matters
Together, these proposals represent a significant expansion of federal fossil fuel leasing in California at a time when the state is legally committed to carbon neutrality by 2045 and communities are already suffering from extreme air pollution, groundwater depletion, and climate-driven disasters.
We urge all members to submit comments by the deadline of March 13, 2026 and share these alerts with your networks. Federal leasing decisions made now will lock in decades of climate and water impacts.
ACTION ALERT 1: Stop New Oil and Gas Drilling in Central California (CCFO)
DEADLINE FOR COMMENT: March 13, 2026
THE THREAT
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central Coast Field Office (CCFO) has released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to open 683,100 acres of federal mineral estate to oil and gas leasing. This planning area spans 12 counties, including Fresno, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara.
Under the "Preferred Alternative" (Alternative F), the BLM proposes to allow development that will release an estimated 660,977 metric tons of CO2e over the 30-year life of the project. This expansion directly contradicts California's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
TALKING POINTS IN OPPOSITION
Cumulative Climate Damage: The BLM claims the impact of 660,977 tons of CO2e is "minor" by comparing it to global totals. However, this "comparison to infinity" ignores the localized climate costs and the cumulative burden of state-wide emissions.
Historic Water Overdraft: New drilling is proposed over groundwater basins already in "historic overdraft”, specifically the Salinas, Pajaro, and Gilroy–Hollister valleys. These basins are classified as high or medium priority under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Authorizing water-intensive drilling in these regions is irresponsible.
Biodiversity Loss: The project area contains proposed critical habitat for the Foothill yellow-legged frog (Central Coast DPS), which was listed as Threatened in 2023. Infrastructure development also threatens the Westernspadefoot and Northwestern pond turtle, both of which are proposed for listing due to habitat fragmentation.
Failure to Protect Public Health: The BLM has explicitly refused to apply California’s SB 1137 setback rules, which require 3,200 feet between wells and sensitive sites like schools and homes. The BLM claims they have no authority to enforce state law on federal land, leaving local communities vulnerable to toxic air contaminants.
EXPECTED COUNTER-RESPONSES & REBUTTALS
Counter-Response: "Oil and gas operations contribute less than 0.2% of total regional air pollutants".
Rebuttal: This figure excludes end-use combustion, which accounts for approximately 80% of total GHG emissions. Furthermore, many counties in the basin, such as Fresno, already suffer from "Extreme Nonattainment" for ozone and "Serious Nonattainment" for fine particulate matter. Any increase in these zones is significant to public health.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
Access the Portal: Go to the official BLM ePlanning project page: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2037489/510.
Navigate: Click the “Participate Now” tab
Submit Comment: Register your opposition to Alternative F. Demand the BLM adopt a "No Action" or "No Leasing" decision to protect California’s water and climate. Please use the talking points above to strengthen your opposition argument.
ACTION ALERT 2: Stop the Massive Drilling Expansion in the San Joaquin Valley (Bakersfield)
DEADLINE FOR COMMENT: March 13, 2026
THE THREAT
The BLM Bakersfield Field Office has released its own Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to facilitate oil and gas development across 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estate in eight counties, including Kern, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo.
The "Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario" (RFDS) projects up to 400 new wells per year. Over the life of this plan, the BLM projects total GHG emissions of 17,200,815 metric tons of CO2e.
TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR OPPOSITION
Massive Climate Footprint: The Bakersfield proposal carries a climate cost of over 17 million tons of CO2e. This is roughly 25 times the emissions of the Central Coast proposal and represents a significant barrier to California’s climate mandates.
Water and Land Subsidence: The Kern County Subbasin is in historic overdraft. While the BLM claims oil extraction uses "minimal" water, the agency admits that hydrocarbon extraction causes localized land subsidence. This subsidence can permanently damage critical infrastructure like the California Aqueduct.
Regulatory Powerlessness: The BLM admits they lack the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in California due to court rulings. This means that if these leases are granted, the federal government cannot effectively control the high-pressure injection of chemicals into the ground, leaving water quality at risk.
EXPECTED COUNTER-RESPONSES & REBUTTALS
Counter-Response: "California refineries import 76% of their oil; we need this production for energy security".
Rebuttal: The maximum annual production from this federal plan is estimated at only 92,000 barrels, which is a negligible 0.018% of the oil processed in California refineries in 2024. We are destroying our public health and water for an insignificant amount of energy that does not change import trends.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
Access the Portal: Visit the official ePlanning site for Project ID: DOI-BLM-CA-C060-2025-0053-RMP-EISat: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2037500/510.
Submit Comment: Click “Participate Now” and register your opposition to Alternative B (the Preferred Action) using the talking points listed above.