U.S. Justice Department sues California to block oil and gas drilling buffer zones
The U.S. Justice Department sued to block California's Senate Bill 1137. Officials argue federal law preempts state rules that impact federal oil leases.
Insights:
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, seeking to block the enforcement of California Senate Bill 1137. This state law, which went into full effect in 2024, establishes buffer zones of at least 3,200 feet between drilling operations for Crude Oil or Natural Gas and community spaces such as schools, homes, and hospitals. The federal government argues that the legislation should be preempted by federal authority as it would eliminate approximately one-third of all federally authorized oil and gas leases within the state.
