On Friday, March 13, 2026, the Trump Administration issued an order under the Defense Production Act directing Sable Offshore Corp. to restart offshore oil development along the Gaviota Coast using the same onshore pipeline system responsible for the devastating 2015 oil spill. This action is a direct attempt to sidestep California’s environmental protections and the regulatory systems designed to ensure pipeline safety and prevent ecological disaster.
Within just 24 hours of the order, Sable resumed operations and began pumping oil through the pipeline that ruptured over a decade ago, causing one of the worst oil spills in California’s history. State officials, including the Fire Marshal, had determined last fall that the pipeline required additional repairs before it could be safely returned to service.
Sable’s actions to restart the corroded pipeline system have been marked by controversy and a track record of disregarding rules and orders. The company has conducted unpermitted work in violation of state-issued cease-and-desist orders, culminating in an unprecedented $18 million fine from the California Coastal Commission. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has brought multiple criminal charges against the company, including five felony counts, for violations of state environmental rules.
The restart of pipeline operations raises concerns about public safety, environmental protection, and potential economic impacts associated with a future spill. The Gaviota Coast is a largely undeveloped portion of California’s shoreline and is environmentally sensitive.
The community has made its position clear. Time and again, Santa Barbara residents have shown up in large numbers to oppose renewed offshore drilling and the risks it brings.
On March 23, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit challenging the use of the Defense Production Act to order a restart of oil development off the Gaviota Coast. The lawsuit asserts the Defense Production Act does not provide the Trump Administration with authority to override state and federal environmental laws or to exempt private companies from compliance with existing regulations and court orders. It also claims that the order is a violation of the Separation of Powers between the executive and judicial branches because it attempts to override the consent decree that settled claims from the 2015 spill and established a process for restarting the offshore production at the Santa Ynez Unit off Gaviota Coast.
On March 14, California State Parks issued a letter demanding that Sable remove its pipeline from State Park property. The pipeline currently runs through four miles of Gaviota State Park, and the easement pertaining to the pipeline expired in 2017.
Additionally, the California State Lands Commission (CSLC), the agency that issues leases for the use of tidal and submerged public trust lands, held an emergency meeting on March 16, to authorize staff to pursue litigation if necessary to address Sable’s reliance on the Defense Production Act. Channelkeeper joined other organizations in voicing support for this action at the CSLC meeting.
Channelkeeper continues to work alongside the Environmental Defense Center and other environmental organizations to mobilize, advocate, and pursue legal and regulatory avenues to halt offshore drilling operations along the Gaviota Coast.
What happens next will shape the future of the Gaviota Coast and potentially set a precedent for how environmental protections are upheld nationwide.