HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLM Oil and Gas Leasing and Development Draft EIS - City of SLO CommentCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
February 11, 2026
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bakersfield Field Office
35126 McMurtrey Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93308
RE: Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Potential Resource Management Plan
Amendment – Oil and Gas Leasing and Development (NEPA # DOI-BLM-CA-C060-2025-0053-RMP-
EIS)
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Bureau of Land Management’s Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and potential Resource Management Plan amendment
addressing oil and gas leasing and development in Central California, including San Luis Obispo
County. The City of San Luis Obispo (City) previously provided comments during the Notice of Intent
phase in July 2025 and reaffirms and expands upon those comments in response to the Draft SEIS.
After review, the City remains concerned that the Draft SEIS does not adequately address local
impacts, does not analyze a reasonable range of alternatives, and does not fully consider risks to
municipal lands, drinking water supplies, and local climate commitments. The City remains opposed
to the expansion of oil and gas leasing on or near lands within or adjacent to our jurisdiction and
respectfully reiterates our request that City-owned parcels and environmentally sensitive lands be
formally excluded from further consideration. These properties are known to have sensitive status
plants, birds, and wildlife present, including federally listed species and potentially significant impacts
have not been evaluated.
As noted in the City’s prior comments, parcels previously identified as “open” for potential leasing
include lands owned and managed by the City within the Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve, which is
permanently protected for conservation and passive recreation. Additionally, a BLM-owned parcel
contiguous with the City’s Irish Hills Natural Reserve is subject to the 2010 Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU LLCAC06000-1001) between the City and BLM. That agreement commits BLM
to withdraw the parcel from mineral entry and to refrain from issuing discretionary authorizations,
including oil and gas leases, without first conferring with the City. We respectfully request that these
commitments continue to be honored and that these lands be removed from environmental review
and leasing consideration. As a practical matter, this parcel and another parcel owned by the City
with a split mineral estate with BLM, do not have underlying oil and gas reserves, nor do they have
physical site access.
The City also continues to have serious concerns regarding the proximity of potential leasing areas
to critical regional drinking water supplies, including Whale Rock Reservoir, Lake Nacimiento, and
Salinas Reservoir. Oil and gas operations in these watersheds present unacceptable risks to
groundwater and surface water quality. The SEIS should include a robust, science-based analysis of
potential contamination risks, including hydraulic fracturing, well integrity, and long-term
groundwater impacts.
Finally, the City respectfully requests inclusion in all notifications, outreach, and consultation related
to the SEIS and any future leasing proposals.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments and for your work to protect sensitive lands,
safeguard vital water resources, and support local communities.
Sincerely,
Erica A. Stewart
Mayor, City of San Luis Obispo
Cc: Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Senator John Laird
League of California Cities