FYI: This is a rapidly changing story.
Sierra Club California Statement on Sable Pipeline Waiver
Just yesterday, the Office of the State Fire Marshal granted a waiver to Sable Offshore Corp. to restart the same corroded pipeline responsible for the catastrophic 2015 Gaviota oil spill. "Despite the outcry from over 120 environmental organizations and numerous state representatives, Governor Newsom quietly approved this decision without public notice, right before the holiday break, and disregarded promises of public meeting to hear feedback on the pipeline,” said Sierra Club California Senior Policy Strategist Gabriela Facio. What makes this decision particularly galling is that the very lack of corrosion control that caused the 2015 spill is the same issue being waived today. This will allow the same unsafe conditions to persist and endanger California communities and the environment. Once again, we are left with calculated end-of-year decisions that prioritize the oil industry's profits over the safety and public health of Californians.
Take action: Call Governor Newsom's office now.
[Condor Call Editor's note]
In late September 2024, the California Coastal Commission cited Sable for violating the law by conducting unpermitted construction work to restart the pipeline. The commission issued a second notice a few days later when construction had not stopped, and issued a cease and desist order in November.
On Oct. 30, 2024, the Santa Barbara Planning Commission voted 3-1 to approve the transfer of ownership in permits and on Nov. 8, the Environmental Defense Center appealed it to County Supervisors. That vote has not been set.
Feature story
California Sierra Club demands updated state review and full public participation in Sable Offshore restart
By Gabriela Facio
Sierra Club California
Almost a decade ago, one of California’s most devastating oil spills occurred on the Gaviota Coast. The spill, caused by a corroded pipeline that ruptured, released hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Pacific, which significantly harmed local ecosystems, closed public beaches, and disrupted the livelihoods of the local community.
Today, that same pipeline, now even riskier than before, faces the possibility of being restarted.
A Texas oil company, Sable, is pushing to resume operations on this old project, which includes reactivating three offshore platforms, two onshore processing facilities, and the same deteriorated pipeline that previously caused the massive oil spill.
To put this in perspective, this same pipeline stretches across hundreds of miles of central California coastline, and poses an enormous risk to sensitive habitats, marine wildlife, and public spaces. Unfortunately, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is relying on an environmental review conducted back in the 1980s, before the pipeline system was fully operational, as a basis to allow Sable to move forward.
Communities near the spill, including Sierra Club’s Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, still bear the trauma of this disaster. Sierra Club has joined thousands of other community members in expressing strong concern over the potential restart of this pipeline system. Our coalition is urging that there be an updated environmental review, including the appropriate public process that comes with it to give a voice back to the community that was most impacted.
Sierra Club California, along with local leaders and environmental allies, is urging the state to require an updated review and public process before Sable is given the green light.
Now more than ever, as the incoming federal administration’s changes are expected to weaken regulations around offshore drilling and prioritize industry interests over environmental safeguards, the stakes could not be higher. If California allows Sable to proceed without an updated environmental review, we risk a repeat of the 2015 devastation, but potentially on an even larger scale.
California has been a leader on environmental protection, and in the face of federal rollbacks of critical regulations, our state has a responsibility to stand by these values.
Please stay tuned for opportunities to get involved on this issue.