Land that could be used to drill for oil — potentially using fracking — includes prime residential and recreational areas in Fresno County and the San Joaquin Valley, according to a map from the Bureau of Land Management.
A spokesperson with BLM said the proposed land may be cleared for drilling for oil and gas, but there are still hurdles to clear before that could be a reality.
“When the BLM conducts an environmental analysis for leases, it covers potential uses,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Federal law grants the BLM authority over federal mineral estates in California, but issuing a lease does not grant an automatic right to begin operations.”
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The operators must still acquire the right permits and stick to environmental standards, the BLM stressed. The BLM identified 44 parcels that make up 36,000 acres from Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo and Fresno counties for the December lease offer.
California banned fracking in October 2024. BLM lists it as a potential use for some of the land.
The Trump Administration recently announced the idea to boost energy exploration and production on federal lands. The president calls the executive order “Unleashing American Energy.” The plan has its critics.
Detractors of the idea, including the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, say that sort of drilling is a threat to the environment — and one they are prepared to fight.
“Fracking is a destructive practice that can contaminate the water we drink, pollute the air we breathe, and spew massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, intensifying climate change,” Cooper Kass, an attorney with the center, said in an email. “Many chemicals used in fracking are carcinogenic, and fracking operations can release dangerous hydrocarbons — like benzene, toluene, and xylene — into the environment.”
The areas available for lease in December are largely in Kern County, including north of Bakersfield near Round Mountain and Poso Creek. There are also areas near Antelope Hills west of Bakersfield along Highway 58, as well as near the Temblor Special Recreation Management Area to the western end of Kern County.
Fresno County’s offering for the December leasing includes 140 acres in Coalinga. Other areas in the Valley have been listed as part of the plans, but they are not included in the December lease offerings.
The proposal is open for comments through Sept. 20 at the BLM’s website (eplanning.blm.gov) by clicking the “participate now” button.
Merced Sun-Star
Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.