In challenging the Trump administration’s push to restart oil pipelines on California’s central coast, a state judge has ruled that the latest executive order does not overturn state laws regarding oil production.
It’s unclear what effect the ruling will have on pipeline operator Sable Offshore Corp., which is facing a number of legal challenges from California authorities.
However, environmental groups celebrated Friday’s decision as “passed the law,” and Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “reprehensible by the Trump administration and Sable’s tactic to illegally use emergency powers to circumvent California law.”
Last month, the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to order the Sable to begin operating and send waste flowing through a network of undersea and land-based oil pipelines. Administrators argued that the order overruled several California laws, regulations and court orders, which for months had prevented the pipeline from restarting.
In Friday’s ruling, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Donna Geck upheld a preliminary injunction issued last summer against Sable, which prohibited restarting the pipeline system until the Houston-based company complies with all state and local laws.
“There is nothing … that allows a group under a [Defense Production Act] Geck wrote in his decision.” He cited case law from two other similar federal court decisions, “strongly indicating that [Defense Production Act] The order, by itself, does not authorize a violation of applicable state regulatory law.”
Experts say Geck’s ruling could signal that other judges — including federal court cases — could rule on the Trump administration’s push to restart pipelines.
Allan Marks, a UCLA law school professor with a background in energy law, pointed out similar challenges to the Trump administration’s meddling in offshore projects, particularly wind farms on the East Coast, which courts have largely rejected.
He said Geck’s decision follows the same logic, he confirmed “that pipelines cannot be restarted legally without complying with the requirements of government permits,” said Marks.
Sable has clashed repeatedly with state and local regulators as he has worked to restart the pipeline, which runs through Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties but is connected to three offshore rigs. The lines have been idle since 2015, when a pipeline burst caused the largest oil spill in the state.
Trump officials rushed to support the project, saying it would boost domestic oil production, especially as gas prices rise because of the war with Iran — despite ongoing regulatory issues, including criminal charges against Sable.
Much about the project, however, is still tied to legal challenges, including the future of the federal permit announcement that should reveal any resumption of the pipeline and confirmation from California that the company is now trespassing in Gaviota State Park.
Geck acknowledged some ongoing legal disputes, but said they do not diminish the court’s authority, saying he is “very concerned about not following through on the original sentence.”
Sable asked Geck to reverse the federal court order following the executive order to restart the pipeline. The company argued that the federal order precludes any requirements from California regulators, including court orders.
Geck did not agree. He will soon consider whether the company should be found in contempt of court.
“This preliminary order is another reminder that Sable is not above the law,” said Mati Waiya, executive director of the Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, one of the groups suing to ensure Sable complies with environmental protection. “We will continue the fight to protect our home.”
