Local officials line up against federal plan to open Central Coast land for oil and gas drilling.

Just as California Attorney General Xavier Becerra prepared to launch his 50th lawsuit against the federal government over policies that go against state priorities, the Trump administration unveiled a proposal last week to open up more than 700,000 acres of land in Monterey County and other regions in central California for oil and gas drilling, including fracking.

Local elected officials are voicing their opposition to the plan likely setting the stage for further confrontation between the state and federal government.

"Trump is now knocking on our door and we have to stand up to him," says Assemblymember Robert Rivas, D-Hollister. "The proposal is inconsistent with our values and policy."

Gov. Gavin Newsom has a 60-day period to review the plan to weigh in, which Rivas is urging him to do.

"We need the governor to exercise his leadership and use his power to object to this plan," Rivas says.

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Office said that the leasing of land for drilling could result in up 37 new wells over the next twenty years.

Clare Lakewood, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, calls the figure a "woeful underestimate."

"The Bureau of Land Management uses data that is more than five years old to downplay the realities of oil production and fracking in the area," she says. "There are almost double the total number of oil and gas wells in the affected counties today."

The BLM plan encompasses land in 11 counties but the majority of the lands are located in Monterey, San Benito and Fresno County.

Voters in Monterey and San Benito counties have passed measures to ban fracking, and while county governments have limited power to regulate what happens on federal land, local policies are supposed to be taken into account when the BLM proceeds to open lands for drilling.

Supervisor Luis Alejo is asking the Board of Supervisors to vote to submit a letter opposing the plan, pointing to Measure Z from 2016 when voters expressed their desire to ban fracking and the drilling of new conventional oil wells.

State Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel released a statement saying that opening up land for drilling goes against the state's efforts to respond to climate change.

"In California, we are moving to zero emissions and this decision represents a step backwards in protecting the health of our communities from the consequences of climate change," he said. "It also threatens the public health and safety of all Californians."

U.S. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley called on constituents to voice their concerns and submit public comments as part of the plan's review process.