In brief
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit to challenge the federal government’s decision to permit Sable Offshore Corp. to restart two oil pipelines off the Santa Barbara coast. The legal action comes in the aftermath of a devastating 2015 oil spill, which raised concerns about environmental risks and the integrity of state regulatory powers over fossil fuel extraction. The decision, made during the Trump administration, has drawn criticism from local officials and environmental groups, who argue restarting the pipelines poses a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California escalated its ongoing battle with the federal government Friday by suing over the approval of a Texas-based company's plans to restart oil pipelines off its coastline, highlighting the state’s efforts to regain control over its environmental regulations.
The lawsuit targets the decision made by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to allow Sable Offshore Corp. to resume operations related to two oil pipelines off Santa Barbara coast, despite a significant oil spill that occurred in 2015. During a press briefing, California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, “The federal administration has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority,” emphasizing the need to uphold state laws designed to protect coastal communities and ecosystems from potential hazards.
This approval from the federal government is part of broader efforts to increase U.S. energy production, which officials from the Transportation Department defend as vital for meeting rising energy demands and addressing high gas prices in California. Critics, however, argue that such actions overlook the devastating impacts of previous oil spills, including one in 2015 that spilled over 140,000 gallons of oil along a wide stretch of California's coast, harming local wildlife and habitats.
Bonta voiced concerns that allowing these pipelines to restart could repeat the mistakes of the past, surfing over community lessons learned from the disastrous oil spill in 2015. “We cannot allow the approval of these pipelines to endanger our coast,” he added.
While Sable Offshore has yet to provide comments on the lawsuit, advocates of the pipeline have faced persistent legal and regulatory challenges as they work to overcome barriers to restart the oil operations. Under federal law, the company may operate in exclusive federal waters, which are beyond the reach of state control.
In a statement, California Assemblymember Gregg Hart criticized the federal government for ignoring the past oil spill's lessons, affirming, “California will not allow Trump and his Big Oil friends to bypass our essential environmental laws and threaten our coastline.”
This legal action comes at a time when California has been transitioning toward clean energy, with efforts to reduce fossil fuel production ramping up in recent years. Santa Barbara County has led initiatives aimed at phasing out onshore oil and gas operations, signaling a clear commitment to mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
