California Sues to Block Restart of Coastal Pipelines
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to overturn PHMSA approval for Sable Offshore Corp.'s restart of two pipelines tied to a 2015 spill.
Overview
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Jan. 23 seeking to overturn the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration pproval of Sable Offshore Corp.'s plan to restart the Las Flores and Santa Ynez Unit pipelines, according to court papers.
The lawsuit challenges PHMSAor asserting federal jurisdiction over pipelines that originate and terminate within California and argues the agency unlawfully federalized facilities historically regulated by the state, officials said at a Dockweiler State Beach news conference.
A PHMSA spokesperson said the agency agreed that returning the Las Flores pipeline to federal jurisdiction was appropriate based on Sable orrespondence and that restarting the pipeline would bring energy to a state with high gas prices, records show.
The dispute stems from the 2015 Refugio oil spill when a rupture released more than 140,000 gallons of oil, fouling 150 miles of coastline, killing wildlife and damaging fisheries, a history cited by environmental groups and state lawmakers in opposition.
If the Ninth Circuit accepts California's petition, the case could determine whether state regulators retain control over the pipelines and whether Sable can resume pumping, and the legal fight may affect the Department of the Interior's broader plan for up to 34 offshore lease sales.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the dispute as a clash between California's environmental protections and the federal push for fossil fuels, emphasizing community harm. They foreground state officials and environmental groups, amplify vivid 2015 spill descriptions, provide brief federal pushback, and give little space to industry rebuttal, shaping readers toward caution.
Sources (3)
FAQ
In 2015, a corroded segment of the Las Flores pipeline ruptured near Santa Barbara, releasing over 140,000 gallons of oil that fouled 150 miles of coastline, killed wildlife, and damaged fisheries.
On December 17, 2025, PHMSA reclassified the onshore Las Flores pipelines as 'interstate' due to their link to offshore rigs in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, shifting jurisdiction from state to federal oversight.
California argues that PHMSA unlawfully federalized intrastate pipelines that originate and terminate within the state, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and issued a sham emergency permit, usurping state authority established post-2015 spill consent decree.
Sable Offshore Corp. bought the Santa Ynez Unit from ExxonMobil in 2024 and sought PHMSA approval to restart the idle pipelines to resume oil production from offshore platforms.
The petition for review was filed on January 23 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; if accepted, it could overturn PHMSA's decisions, retain state control, block Sable's restart, and impact broader offshore lease plans.
History
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