Santa Barbara County court hearing reveals setback in Sable Offshore Corp. plans to restart failed oil pipeline
January 7, 2026
SANTA BARBARA, CA—Under direct questioning from a judge, attorneys for Sable Offshore Corp. admitted in court today that the company has yet to restart two old, defective pipelines that run from the Santa Barbara coast to Kern County.
The admission was a setback for Sable’s plans to restart the Santa Ynez Unit, the large oil and gas operation formerly owned by ExxonMobil that includes three aging offshore platforms and the same pipeline system responsible for the 2015 spill at Refugio State Beach—one of the worst oil spill disasters in California history.
Because no oil flowed through pipelines CA-324 or CA-325 before the end of 2025, the project is now subject to a new California law, effective January 1, that requires oil companies to apply for a new Coastal Development Permit from the state Coastal Commission before restarting old, idled fossil fuel equipment.
Superior Court Judge Donna Geck also declined Sable’s request to schedule an immediate hearing to consider removing an injunction that is now preventing Sable from restarting the pipelines before it has all necessary approvals. Judge Geck scheduled a hearing for February 27, and the injunction currently remains in effect.
“Sable’s admission in court that it has yet to restart its defective oil pipeline is a big deal,” said Linda Krop, Chief Counsel for the Environmental Defense Center (EDC). “It means Sable is now subject to a new California law requiring a Coastal Development Permit for projects like this.”
“Restarting this pipeline system without making critical repairs that the state has said are necessary, and with no environmental review or public vetting at any level of government, risks another major disaster in California,” Krop said. “This is not just a danger to our coast, but a threat to the economic wellbeing and safety of everyone living along the 120-mile pipeline route.”
EDC represents Get Oil Out!, Santa Barbara County Action Network, Sierra Club, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in this case. EDC’s lawsuit, filed with the Center for Biological Diversity in April 2025, challenged the state Fire Marshal’s approval of waivers allowing the pipeline to operate without the required environmental review, with no opportunity for public input, and without any explanation of the agency’s decision.
In addition to the injunction preventing restart, other hurdles for Sable include:
- The company still needs an easement to operate through Gaviota State Park. Restarting the pipeline without an easement would be a clear violation of state law.
- In October 2025, the state Fire Marshal notified Sable that more repairs were needed before the pipeline could safely restart. Sable has not made those repairs and is enjoined in a separate lawsuit from making any repairs without the proper permits.
- A state law effective January 1 requires a new Coastal Development Permit for restart of idled fossil fuel equipment.
- The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted last month to deny the transfer of permits from Exxon to Sable. Under County law, Sable cannot operate its onshore facilities without these permits.
- EDC and the Center for Biological Diversity are challenging the Trump Administration’s claim of jurisdiction over the pipeline restart in federal court.
