SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In a significant legal move, California filed a lawsuit against the federal government on Friday over the approval of plans by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. to restart two oil pipelines along the state's coast. This escalation follows the Trump administration's efforts to roll back regulatory barriers to offshore oil drilling—an activity that has been dormant for decades.
Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted that the federal administration is overstepping its bounds, asserting that California is committed to protecting its coastlines, beaches, and local communities from the potential hazards posed by these pipelines. Bonta emphasized this position saying, The federal administration has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority.
Sable's project aims to deliver oil in waters off Santa Barbara, which were affected by a massive oil spill in 2015—the worst in decades—which saw over 140,000 gallons of oil polluting the southern California coast and devastating local wildlife.
While Bonta's lawsuit seeks to halt the project, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration defended its decision, arguing that restarting the Las Flores Pipeline would alleviate high gas prices in California.
This legal battle not only highlights the ongoing conflict between state environmental regulation and federal energy policies but also raises concerns about the potential environmental impacts of offshore drilling. Critics argue the newly proposed drilling activities could harm marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Trump's administration has actively promoted increasing U.S. energy production, reversing former President Biden's ban on offshore drilling—setting the stage for renewed conflicts over environmental policy and energy production along the West Coast.
As California continues to pursue cleaner energy alternatives and reduce fossil fuel dependence, officials and environmental groups remain determined to challenge the resumption of such oil operations, viewing them as dangerous and outdated.
Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted that the federal administration is overstepping its bounds, asserting that California is committed to protecting its coastlines, beaches, and local communities from the potential hazards posed by these pipelines. Bonta emphasized this position saying, The federal administration has no right to usurp California’s regulatory authority.
Sable's project aims to deliver oil in waters off Santa Barbara, which were affected by a massive oil spill in 2015—the worst in decades—which saw over 140,000 gallons of oil polluting the southern California coast and devastating local wildlife.
While Bonta's lawsuit seeks to halt the project, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration defended its decision, arguing that restarting the Las Flores Pipeline would alleviate high gas prices in California.
This legal battle not only highlights the ongoing conflict between state environmental regulation and federal energy policies but also raises concerns about the potential environmental impacts of offshore drilling. Critics argue the newly proposed drilling activities could harm marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Trump's administration has actively promoted increasing U.S. energy production, reversing former President Biden's ban on offshore drilling—setting the stage for renewed conflicts over environmental policy and energy production along the West Coast.
As California continues to pursue cleaner energy alternatives and reduce fossil fuel dependence, officials and environmental groups remain determined to challenge the resumption of such oil operations, viewing them as dangerous and outdated.
