California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Panoche/Coalinga
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place 28 oil and gas leases and 29 rights of way inside the line today, and 24 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 55,210 acres and was designated September 7, 2007, in the Hollister.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
The rights of way
29 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 10 under other energy facilities, 10 under non-energy facilities and 9 under oil & gas facilities.
- PG&E12rights of way
- CRIMSON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT2rights of way
- PRODUCERS TRANSPORT1right of way
- FAA USDT1right of way
- SAN LUIS WTR DI1right of way
- CA DEPT TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- CHEVRON PIPE LINE COMPANY1right of way
- AMERICAN TOWERS INC1right of way
- BAKERSFIELD OFFICE1right of way
- PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY1right of way
- STANDARD OIL1right of way
- CRIMSON PIPELINE LLC1right of way
- CA DEPT WATER RESOURCES1right of way
- PACIFIC LIGHT AND POWER CO1right of way
- FRESNO MSA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP1right of way
- WESTERN AREA POWER ADMIN1right of way
- FRESNO COUNTY (California)1right of way
The oil and gas leases
28 active oil and gas leases sit inside the line. 28 of them took effect before the area was designated on September 7, 2007.
- CALIFORNIA RESOURCES PETROLEUM CORPORATION (CRC)11leases
- Holder not listed by BLM9leases
- CHEVRON USA INC7leases
- AERA ENERGY LLC1lease
Grazing allotments
24 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Cantua Ranch61,586acres
- Kreyenhagen34,692acres
- WJM Sheep Co27,259acres
- Gorham Ranch22,708acres
- Ciervo Hills21,804acres
- Silver Creek20,023acres
- Harris Jack A14,823acres
- Surprise Arroyo12,620acres
- Wolfenberger9,173acres
- Indian Valley7,537acres
- Panoche Hills7,331acres
- Mercy6,652acres
- El Adobe6,059acres
- Little Panoche5,306acres
- Dosados Canyon4,583acres
- Manning4,385acres
- Zubeldia3,307acres
- De Pavo3,251acres
- Zwang3,242acres
- East Little Panoche3,043acres
- Moreno Gulch2,705acres
- Cal-West1,590acres
- Wood1,420acres
- Lasgoity1,090acres
The nearest areas
- Joaquin RocksCalifornia · 7,303 acres · 4 grazing allotments covering part of it5miles
- Clear Creek SerpentineCalifornia · 29,146 acres · at least 4 mining claims BLM lists as Filed, 14 rights of way, 7 grazing allotments covering part of it10miles
- Kettleman HillsCalifornia · 28,813 acres · 26 oil and gas leases, 18 rights of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it35miles
- Tierra RedondaCalifornia · 1,312 acres · nothing placed inside50miles
- Cypress MountainCalifornia · 3,036 acres · nothing placed inside59miles
Next to it
Kettleman Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
More from BLM's California office
Every area BLM's California office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Panoche/Coalinga. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.
The rule's abstract
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026