Some Central and South Coast legislators are proposing a block on new oil or gas drilling on more than a million acres of federal land in the state until proposals receive a comprehensive environmental review.
Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara and Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley of Westlake Village are sponsors of what’s called the California Land Protection Act.
The Trump Administration announced in 2019 that it would allow new oil and gas exploration on 1.2 million acres of federal land. A coalition of environmental groups filed lawsuits which has so far temporarily blocked the move.
The legislation calls for a halt to future oil and gas development on the land until comprehensive environmental impact reports are completed, and show the projects won’t show significant harm.
