Interior Department Pushes Back on California Overreach, Supports Oil Producers

In a strong show of support for California’s independent oil and gas producers, nine members of California’s congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging immediate action to reassert federal jurisdiction over mineral permitting on federal lands in California. The July 9, 2025, letter, which CIPA requested, outlines how the state of California has for years interfered with federally authorized oil production, crippling local producers, costing the U.S. Treasury millions in royalties, and increasing California’s dependence on foreign crude.

The letter explains that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has sole statutory authority under federal law, including the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, to regulate and permit oil production on federal lands. However, over the past 15 years, BLM has informally allowed the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) to delay and deny permits, despite having no legal authority to do so.

State Overreach, Federal Consequences

Using state environmental laws and broad interpretations of endangered species protections, California regulators have blocked new production even when federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews are satisfied. The letter specifically cites the 3,200-foot setback law (SB 1137) as a significant barrier to production, noting it has “curtailed thousands of daily barrels of crude and natural gas,” costing taxpayers millions in lost royalties and forcing the state to import over 75% of its crude, much of it from countries with lower environmental standards.

Call for Action by Secretary Burgum

The lawmakers called on Secretary Burgum to direct the California BLM office to immediately move forward with permitting activities without allowing further interference from state regulators. They also urged the Department to ensure timely issuance of “API numbers,” which are essential identifiers used by operators to track and develop wells.

A Unified Voice for California Energy Security

The letter was signed by the following members of Congress:

• Tom McClintock

• Kevin Kiley

• David Valadao

• Young Kim

• Ken Calvert

• Vince Fong

• Darrell Issa

• Jay Obernolte

• Doug LaMalfa

These nine members, each representing regions with oil and gas development or impacted by California’s energy policies via higher energy prices, have taken a bold step to defend domestic production and assert the primacy of federal law on federal land.

CIPA Applauds Congressional Leadership

“This letter represents exactly the kind of leadership we need to restore sanity to California’s energy policy,” said Rock Zierman, CEO of CIPA. “Our producers are ready to deliver reliable, affordable, and environmentally regulated energy under federal law—but they can’t do that if the state is allowed to hijack the process. We thank these members of Congress for defending energy security and standing up for our industry.”

Looking Forward

CIPA urges the Department of the Interior to act swiftly on the congressional delegation’s recommendations. With the right leadership from Washington, California's federal lands could once again provide a stable and clean source of energy for the state, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and support the thousands of workers who make up the backbone of this essential industry.