Mt. Diablo Faces Drilling Threat

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A local nonprofit warned that a federal proposal could open nearly 2 million acres of public land to oil and gas drilling and fracking, potentially threatening Mount Diablo State Park and other protected areas across the Diablo Range.

Save Mount Diablo said the Trump administration released plans that would expand oil and gas leasing on public lands, placing large portions of the Diablo Range “in the crosshairs.”

The organization said in a news release that the plan could affect land surrounding — and, in some cases, within — Mount Diablo State Park, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Pinnacles National Park, and Henry W. Coe State Park.

Save Mount Diablo said the Bureau of Land Management manages some of the lands identified in the proposal, while others may contain underlying mineral rights that the government could sell for private development.

Organizers urged community members to submit public comments opposing the plan through its Action Network page. They said public input to the Bureau of Land Management is critical to protecting parks, wildlife habitat, and recreational lands.