Environmental Groups Disappointed by County Decision to Empower Sable
October 30, 2024
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission votes to transfer oil permits despite community fears of another major spill
Santa Barbara, CA – On Wednesday, October 30, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted to transfer oil permits for equipment formerly owned by ExxonMobil on the Gaviota Coast to a new Texas oil company called Sable Offshore. The equipment includes the corroded pipeline that failed in 2015 and caused the devastating Refugio oil spill.
A coalition of Central Coast environmental groups and community members opposed the transfer at the Commission hearing. Speakers pointed out that Sable has not demonstrated the financial ability to deal with another spill, does not have an approved Oil Spill Contingency Plan, and cannot be trusted to operate the equipment responsibly – all of which are conditions for transfer of the permits. However, based on the advice of staff, Commissioners still voted 3-1 to transfer the permits.
Statement from EDC Chief Counsel Linda Krop:
We are disappointed that the Commission voted today to help Sable’s effort to restart oil extraction on the Gaviota Coast. We’ve learned from experience in Santa Barbara that we can’t just trust the word of oil companies who tell us everything will be fine. EDC and our partners will continue to fight this project on multiple fronts. We can’t afford another major spill on our coastline.
Testimony from Ken Hough, Santa Barbara County Action Network:
The unsafe pipeline rises some 1,300 feet between a safety valve in Cuyama Valley and the next valve at the top of the mountains before the drop into Kern County. (A spill on this section of the line could be) nearly 42,000 barrels or more than 1.7 million gallons – 14 times the size of the Refugio spill and 400 times the size of the tanker-truck spill into the Cuyama river a few years ago.
Testimony from Michael Lyons, President of Get Oil Out!:
Sable is uniquely vulnerable to financial insolvency. It would be a grave mistake to transfer responsibility for decommissioning these facilities to Sable.
Background:
In 2015, a corroded pipeline on the Gaviota Coast ruptured and caused one of the largest oil spills in California history. The Refugio spill poisoned 150 miles of the CA coast, killed untold numbers of animals, and wreaked economic havoc on the Central Coast. Now, a new Texas oil company called Sable is attempting to restart the same pipeline, three offshore drilling platforms, and two onshore processing facilities. On Monday, the EDC, representing Get Oil Out! and the Santa Barbara County Action Network, submitted a comment letter demonstrating that Sable had not met the County’s own conditions for transfer of the permits.
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The Environmental Defense Center defends nature and advances environmental justice on California’s Central Coast through advocacy and legal action. Since 1977, EDC has represented more than 140 nonprofit, community-based organizations to protect the Central Coast and the Earth’s climate. EDC is funded through private donations, receiving no government assistance. Learn more at www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org.
