California sues over plan to restart oil pipelines off Santa Barbara coast

[Elderberry]

AP By  SOPHIE AUSTIN 1/23/2026

 California sued the federal government Friday for approving a Texas-based company’s plans to restart two oil pipelines along the state’s coast, escalating a fight over the Trump administration’s removal of regulatory barriers to offshore oil drilling for the first time in decades.

The administration has hailed the project by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. to restart production in waters off Santa Barbara damaged by a 2015 oil spill as the kind of project President Donald Trump wants to increase U.S. energy production.

The state oversees the pipelines that run through Santa Barbara and Kern counties, said Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“The federal administration has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority,” he said at a news conference. “We’re taking them to court to draw a line in the sand and to protect our coast, beaches and communities from potentially hazardous pipelines.”

More: https://apnews.com/article/california-oil-pipelines-coast-sable-trump-lawsuit-cbf79cac5dcdd7d2a720281246e52b09

[Smokin Joe]

'We want the most expensive gasoline in the country, and we'll sue to have it!'

[IsailedawayfromFR]

'We want the most expensive gasoline in the country, and we'll sue to have it!'

California is a failed state.

[PeteS in CA]

1. Bonta's claim is probably incorrect. However,

2. The pertinent platforms are outside of California state waters and are capable of transferring crude oil directly into tankers.

So Bonta's lawfare can be bypassed while it is litigated, and is likely to fail, a waste of taxpayer $$$$ to fellate Enviros.

[catfish1957]

In 1980 there were 50 refineries in CA, now there are 13. 

If that number keeps dropping, watch  gasoline prices start rising exponentially.  Transmission via pipelines and barges a'int cheap.  An EV might be their only option.

[Idiot]

I'm sorry for you Pete, but the majority of the nuts there get what they deserve and quit sending them to Texas! 

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Bonta said one of the pipelines Sable wants to restart burst in 2015, spilling oil along the Southern California coast. The event was the state’s worst oil spill in decades. More than 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) of oil gushed out, blackening beaches for 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. It polluted a biologically rich habitat for endangered whales and sea turtles, killing scores of pelicans, seals and dolphins, and decimating the fishing industry.


Woods Hole says 20 - 25 tons are emitted every day due to natural oil seeps off the coast of Santa Barbara.  That is every day about twice the amount of oil involved in that single pipeline spill.

So there is no ecological disaster as the hyperbole tries to make.  Blame nature, not oil companies.
https://www.whoi.edu/ocean-learning-hub/multimedia/santa-barbara-oil-seeps/

And California should be more interested in monitoring the bilge releases of all those ships docking in LA harbor which can easily be releasing more liquid contaminants than this amount.

[PeteS in CA]

On some SoCal beaches (Los Angeles Bay Area) walking barefoot on the sand will get the soles of your feet a coating of thick oil or tar.

Noisome & the Enviros are lying by omission in their proclamations. Unsurprisingly.

[Smokin Joe]

On some SoCal beaches (Los Angeles Bay Area) walking barefoot on the sand will get the soles of your feet a coating of thick oil or tar.

Noisome & the Enviros are lying by omission in their proclamations. Unsurprisingly.

Offshore production actually reduced that by lowering reservoir pressures.
At one time, it was a bonus. The Spanish and others beached their vessels to coat the hulls with the tar to ward off marine growth and shipworms.

[Idiot]

Bonta said one of the pipelines Sable wants to restart burst in 2015, spilling oil along the Southern California coast. The event was the state’s worst oil spill in decades. More than 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) of oil gushed out, blackening beaches for 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. It polluted a biologically rich habitat for endangered whales and sea turtles, killing scores of pelicans, seals and dolphins, and decimating the fishing industry.


Woods Hole says 20 - 25 tons are emitted every day due to natural oil seeps off the coast of Santa Barbara.  That is every day about twice the amount of oil involved in that single pipeline spill.

So there is no ecological disaster as the hyperbole tries to make.  Blame nature, not oil companies.
https://www.whoi.edu/ocean-learning-hub/multimedia/santa-barbara-oil-seeps/

And California should be more interested in monitoring the bilge releases of all those ships docking in LA harbor which can easily be releasing more liquid contaminants than this amount.

Oil co's have deep pockets....sue them!!!

[DefiantMassRINO]

Oil and Gas Companies,

Write-off Cali assets as a loss; file for Reorganization if this would cause significant financial harm to the continued viability as a solvent company.

Maybe file a countersuit if the rig is in Federal waters ... ask yourself, what would the Danish Offshore Wind Turbine Mafia do?

Put your money to work where people like reliable, affordable, secure, domestic energy - Gulf of America; Guyana; Brazil; Namibia, etc.

California's high gasoline prices or gasoline shortages are by California state government's design.  Let the state depopulate and industries move ... and let the Cali Revenue Officers chase them across state lines, where local officials will arrest them.