The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing to hold an oil and gas lease sale on December 1, 2026, that would offer approximately 35,000 acres of California’s public lands across Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno counties for new oil and gas drilling. The proposed sale includes 43 parcels of public land, raising serious concerns about the long-term consequences of expanding fossil fuel development in communities already facing the impacts of air pollution, water stress, and environmental degradation. Opening these lands to drilling could threaten sensitive ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and conservation areas while exposing nearby communities to additional pollution from oil and gas operations. The sale also raises questions about responsible public land management and whether Californians are receiving a fair return for the extraction of publicly owned resources. Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) is mobilizing California’s elected leaders to oppose this expansion and demonstrate strong local opposition to further drilling on our public lands. Through our elected official sign-on letter, we are calling on local, state, and federal leaders to stand with their communities in protecting California’s natural resources, public health, and future generations. The deadline to formally protest the proposed lease sale is November 2, 2026, making it critical for elected officials to make their voices heard now.

To help lawmakers understand what is at stake, EOPA has developed a comprehensive information sheet detailing the proposed lease sale, the specific parcels under consideration, and the potential real-world consequences for California’s communities, public health, air and water quality, wildlife, and protected lands. Click the button below to access the full information sheet for lawmakers, learn more about the impacts of the proposed leases, and understand why elected leaders are being urged to oppose this expansion of oil and gas drilling on California’s public lands.