President Donald Trump’s push to expand domestic oil and gas production may bring new drilling to California’s Central Coast — including parts of Santa Barbara County.
More than 400,000 acres of federal land — managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and stretching from Fresno to Ventura counties — are now being eyed for new oil and gas leasing and development , as the president calls for “Unleashing American Energy.”
The BLM recently announced a 30-day public comment period for its draft environmental review and resource management plan. The effort stems from a 2022 settlement agreement that required the bureau to conduct a detailed environmental analysis before considering any new drilling or fracking proposals on the Central Coast. A federal moratorium has halted any new leases while the analysis is completed.