Addis Opposes Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Management Proposal

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), released the following letter opposing the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) proposed updates to oil and gas leasing and development on public lands along the Central Coast region, calling on the agency to comply with state law:

February 9, 2026
The Honorable Doug Burgum Secretary United States Department of Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

RE: COMMENTS OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER DAWN ADDIS ON PUBLISHED DOCUMENT 2026-00468 (91 FR 1329), PUBLICATION DATE 01/13/2026

Dear Secretary Burgum,

As the representative of the 30th Assembly District and a co-chair of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, I write to express grave concern regarding the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Coast Field Office Oil and Gas Leasing and Development Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

On January 13, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management published a notice in the Federal Registrar announcing plans to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for oil and gas leasing and development on public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties, and portions of Fresno, Merced, and San Joaquin counties.

Unfortunately, this is just the most recent action by the Federal Administration to increase oil production at the expense of environmental safety and public health since President Donald Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14154, "Unleashing American Energy," which removes critical regulations of oil and gas production methods, including hydraulic fracking. These actions are an existential threat to our safety and stand in direct contradiction to our state's land use policies.

In contrast, California in recent years has taken sharp strides to protect vulnerable communities from the detrimental effects of oil and gas operations, while achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1137 (Gonzalez, Chapter 365, Statutes of 2022), which mandated a 3200-foot buffer zone between new and reworked oil and gas wells and sensitive land uses, which include schools, childcare centers, residential homes, and hospitals. Additionally, it required operators to implement strict air and water pollution controls and develop response plans for the two million Californians living within 3200 feet of an existing oil well.

In 2024, I introduced and successfully passed Assembly Bill 3233 (Addis, Chapter 550, Statutes of 2024), which codified the right of local governments to limit or prohibit oil and gas operations within their jurisdictions. Subsequently, localities such as the City and County of Los Angeles have used this law to enact measures that ban future oil and gas activity.

In our region along the Central Coast, local restrictions further make the proposal by the BLM infeasible. This includes the Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) thresholds for Santa Cruz County established in its 2022 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and the deed restrictions relative to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument.

Therefore, the proposed amendment blatantly ignores local and state laws that limit oil activity. The Administration, through the Bureau of Land Management, must develop resource management that align with local General Plans.

Since my time in elected office, I have strongly opposed any action to increase oil production and prioritize profits over people, the planet, and local economy. On the Morro Bay City Council, I passed a resolution opposing offshore drilling; in the California State Assembly, I introduced Assembly Bill 1243 (2025), which accounts for the damages inflicted on local communities from oil drilling and production; and most recently, I introduced Assembly Bill 1536 (2026), the Save Our Shores Act and End Offshore Oil Drilling. Finally, as founder and Chair of the Central Coast Legislative Caucus, I strongly oppose reckless drilling, and I promise to protect our region's environment, economy, and future.

I urge your Administration to reject this proposal. The Central Coast is not for sale.

Sincerely,

DAWN ADDIS
Assemblymember, 30th District

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Public comment open through March 6, 2026 via the 'Participate Now' option at: BLM National NEPA Register,

CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832