Skip to main content

Congressman Panetta Condemns Administration Decision to Expand Oil and Gas Leasing Development on the Central Coast

October 4, 2019

SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) released the following statement on the Bureau of Land Management's decision for oil and gas leasing and development in the BLM Central Coast Field Office planning area, primarily in Fresno, Monterey, and San Benito counties.

"I am disappointed by the decision by the Bureau of Land Management. Not only does it stand in direct opposition to California's efforts to develop a clean energy economy, it threatens wildlife habitats and could have significant, detrimental impacts on our air and water quality," said Congressman Panetta. "This destructive decision by the administration goes against our community's wishes to stop fracking, and will not go unchallenged. I will continue to fight this decision and work to ensure the central coast of California can continue aggressively pursuing policies that protect the state's critical natural resources and support a sustainable future."

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, the BLM's Central Coast Field Office (CCFO) released a Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Today's decision ends a five-year moratorium on oil and gas leasing of federal land and mineral estate in California, which has been in effect since 2013.

The BLM's Record of Decision and Central Coast Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development makes approximately 680,000 acres of Federal mineral estate available for leasing with controlled surface use stipulations and another roughly 42,000 acres available for leasing with no surface occupancy requirements. An additional 67,500 acres of Federal minerals are closed to leasing and development, including designated wilderness areas, wilderness study areas and national monuments.

Issues:Environment