The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office issues December oil and gas lease sale notice, Kern County
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bakersfield Field Office will offer seven parcels for lease, totaling approximately 4,133 acres of federal minerals, at an oil and gas lease sale during the week of December 7. All parcels are located in or adjacent to existing oilfields in Kern County.
The BLM is a key contributor to the Trump Administration’s priority for American energy independence through an all-of-the-above strategy that includes oil and gas, strategic minerals and renewable sources, such as wind, geothermal and solar – all of which can be found on public lands.
“The BLM is committed to responsible energy development on public lands to meet the needs of the American people while fulfilling our mission to manage the public’s natural resources for multiple uses. We strive to be a good neighbor and supporter of local communities,” says BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen. “The oil and gas industry generates approximately 3,500 jobs and $200 million in economic benefit annually within the Bakersfield area alone.”
Oil and gas fields on public lands in California are highly developed with some oilfields having been in production for more than 100 years. The leases being offered for sale are adjacent to the Midway-Sunset Oilfield or within the Kern Front Oilfield in Kern County. The environmental analysis estimates that, based on development trends on new leases, up to 10 new wells could be developed across all seven parcels.
The Bakersfield Field Office will conduct additional environmental review and may issue site-specific conditions when considering an application for permit to drill, in addition to the stipulations already attached to the lease at the time of sale.
BLM-managed public lands in California account for less than 10 percent of California’s oil and gas production, with the state managing the remaining 90 percent. The state permits all hydraulic fracturing activities in California, including those on BLM-managed public land.
Revenues from onshore oil and gas production on Federal lands directly fund the U.S. Treasury and state budgets, and support public education, infrastructure improvements and other state-determined priorities. The BLM shares with California roughly 50 percent or between $65 million to $90 million dollars per year of collected oil and gas royalties. The remaining 50 percent is paid to the U.S. Treasury. Nationwide, the BLM generated a record $1.1 billion from 28 oil and gas lease sales in Fiscal Year 2018.
The BLM will hold the lease sale online at www.energynet.com. Parcels may be viewed online at the EnergyNet website approximately 10 business days after today’s posting of the Notice of Competitive Lease Sale on the project website at https://go.usa.gov/xGxKz.
This sale notice initiates a 30-day public protest period that ends on Nov. 9. Protests must be submitted online at https://go.usa.gov/xGxKz, via facsimile: 916-978-4388, or by mail to the BLM California State Office, Attn: Oil and Gas Lease Sale, 2800 Cottage Way, STE-1618, Sacramento, CA 95825. For specific questions, please contact BLM Supervisory Land Law Examiner Adjudication Jennifer Stedman at 916-978-4400 during normal business hours.
Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other personal identifying information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While someone may ask the BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.