With a team of scientists, engineers, environmental experts, and other specialists, the Department of Conservation administers a variety of programs vital to California's public safety, environment and economy.

It regulates oil, natural gas and geothermal wells; studies and maps earthquakes and other geologic phenomena; maps and classifies areas containing mineral deposits; ensures reclamation of land used for mining; and administers agricultural and open-space land conservation programs.

The Bureau gradually added authority to regulate oil and gas development, as well as forestry (timber to support mining was a major issue of the day).

In 1976, it was authorized to help assure reclamation of mined lands, and in 1990 to delineate regulatory zones for liquefaction, earthquake-triggered landslides, and tsunamis.

The Williamson Act is a California law that gives property tax priority to landowners who keep their land an open or agricultural space.

[6] Another policy that falls under the Division of Land Resource Protection is the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA.

This act was created in 1970 to ensure the government and its agencies maintain a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment for Californians, while also recognizing that action must be taken now to keep it that way.

To do that, CalGEM uses science and sound engineering practices to regulate the drilling, operation, and permanent closure of energy resource wells.

In 2014 the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR)[11] officials admitted that for several years they had "inadvertently" permitted companies to inject potentially hazardous wastewater from fracking and other oil production operations "into hundreds of disposal wells in protected aquifers" in violation of federal law.

[11]) The State Mining and Geology Board is granted certain autonomous responsibilities and obligations under several statutes within the Department of Conservation.