EDC Statement on court order denying stay requested to halt immediate restart of Sable pipeline

Immediate Release: December 31, 2026
EDC STATEMENT:

Today, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals denied a stay that was requested in an emergency lawsuit and would have prevented Sable Offshore Corporation’s immediate restart of the notorious oil pipeline on California’s Central Coast.  The case is still moving forward, and the judge issued an expedited briefing schedule. 

The Environmental Defense Center (EDC), the Center for Biological Diversity, and their clients filed the emergency lawsuit on Christmas Eve to halt the Trump administration’s rushed approval for restart of the defective pipeline that ignored federal laws requiring public input and an environmental review. 

EDC and its clients are deeply concerned with the potential of this pipeline being turned on while recent findings from the state Fire Marshal show that the pipeline still needs repairs before it can safely resume operations. Sable also lacks a necessary easement from State Parks to operate the pipeline in Gaviota State Park, and it lacks required permits to operate from Santa Barbara County. If Sable turns on this pipeline, the company will be in violation of the law and EDC will do everything it can to reverse the restart and protect public safety and the environment. It is critical that the State and Santa Barbara County step up to enforce laws protecting the environment, public health and safety, and a transparent public process. 

“Sable is rushing to restart this failed oil pipeline without following basic safety laws and without even making the necessary repairs, posing an immediate threat to lives, property, and the environment across a large part of our state,” said EDC Chief Counsel Linda Krop. “We can’t allow the Trump administration and Sable to undermine California law and gamble with the safety of everyone living along the pipeline route.”

EDC represents Get Oil Out!, Santa Barbara County Action Network, Sierra Club, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in this matter.