Federal Order Restarts Controversial California Coastal Oil Pipeline After Decade Shutdown

Sable Offshore Corp.’s Las Flores Canyon Plant, in Goleta, processes oil from a trio of offshore platforms. (Al Seib)

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | National News

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Oil is once again flowing along California’s Central Coast for the first time in more than a decade, following federal intervention that has reignited a long-standing battle over energy policy and environmental safety.

Sable Offshore Corp. confirmed this week that it has resumed operations along the Santa Ynez Unit pipeline system, which had remained inactive since a major 2015 oil spill caused by a ruptured, corroded line. The restart comes after the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act, directing the company to resume production in the interest of national energy security.

Las Flores Canyon Sable facility | Credit: Paul Wellman (file)

The pipeline network transports oil from offshore platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel to onshore processing facilities, including the Las Flores Canyon plant. Company estimates indicate the system could produce between 45,000 and 60,000 barrels of oil per day, potentially increasing California’s domestic oil supply by as much as 17 percent.

However, the move has drawn immediate backlash from California officials and environmental organizations. State agencies, including California State Parks, have issued demands for the pipeline’s removal from protected areas such as Gaviota State Park and are preparing legal action. Environmental groups argue the aging infrastructure poses ongoing safety risks and could contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

The restart marks a significant escalation in tensions between federal and state authorities, with multiple lawsuits already underway. At the center of the dispute is whether federal powers under the Defense Production Act can override California’s environmental regulations and prior legal restrictions.

As oil production resumes, the outcome of the legal challenges ahead could have far-reaching implications for energy policy and environmental oversight nationwide.