The California Coastal Commission notified an oil company that it will commence proceedings to seek a cease-and-desist order regarding the restart of the Santa Barbara County oil pipeline, which ruptured in 2015.
The Commission contends Sable Offshore Corporation’s restart of the pipeline in March amounts to unpermitted development.
Sable had sought approval from the state to restart the pipeline. Those efforts stalled. The company then turned to the federal government, contending that federal agencies should be regulating the pipeline. In March, the company used a federal order to resume pipeline operations.
The commission letter says the restart without full state review or permits is the latest in a series of violations of the California Coastal Act by the company. Sable contended that its work to repair and restart the pipeline was covered under existing pipeline permits.
Commission staff members say that if Sable refuses to halt operations, it will hold a hearing on the cease and desist order.
Santa Barbara’s Environmental Defense Center (EDC) issued a statement asserting the company is also violating a new state law requiring a permit for the restart of old oil facilities.
The EDC, as well as other environmental groups, contend restarting the pipeline sets the stage for another disaster, like the 2015 pipeline rupture that spilled 140,000 gallons of oil on the Gaviota Coast.
The company reports it’s moving more than 50,000 barrels of oil a day through the pipeline, and is in the process of reactivating more than 110 wells on three oil platforms off the Santa Barbara County coastline.
