California Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over Oil Pipeline Restart

Wed Feb 04 2026 10:27:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

California has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to challenge the approval of Texas-based Sable Offshore Corp.'s plans to restart oil pipelines along its coast, sparking a controversial debate on offshore drilling regulation.

The lawsuit centers around the Trump administration's approval for Sable Offshore Corp. to resume oil production in Santa Barbara County, a contentious issue given the area's history of devastating oil spills. California's Attorney General Rob Bonta argues the move undermines state authority and could endanger coastal communities and ecosystems. While federal officials claim the restart is necessary for energy production, critics highlight the potential risks based on previous disasters.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a significant move, California has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over its approval of Sable Offshore Corporation's plans to restart two oil pipelines along the state’s coast. This legal action intensifies the ongoing battle regarding offshore oil drilling in a region still recovering from a catastrophic oil spill in 2015.

The Trump administration has championed the initiative as a vital step to enhance U.S. energy production, but California's Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta has declared that the state is determined to defend its regulatory authority. The federal administration has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority, Bonta stated, emphasizing the potential risks posed by hazardous pipelines to the coast, beaches, and local communities.

Despite bountiful pushback, federal agencies, including the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, defend the pipeline restart as essential for alleviating high gas prices statewide. Sable Offshore Corp., which has faced numerous legal obstacles, did not provide a comment on the latest lawsuit.

Historical context is crucial here; the 2015 oil spill, the worst in Santa Barbara's recent history, released over 140,000 gallons into the ocean, resulting in significant harm to marine wildlife and coastal ecosystems. Critics, including Bonta and local environmentalists, argue that this approval ignores the hard-learned lessons of ecological disaster.

Sable’s operations would resume in offshore areas where state regulatory power does not reach, raising concerns about the impact on both the environment and local communities. Lawmakers are vocal in their opposition, asserting that California will not allow readmission into the potentially hazardous drilling practices that threaten its coastal ecosystems.

Recognizing the pressing significance of the issue, California has increasingly focused on transitioning towards clean energy, with recent initiatives aiming to phase out onshore oil and gas activities in favor of sustainable alternatives.