The latest twist in the legal and regulatory saga that has plagued Sable Offshore’s attempts to revamp oil operations on the Gaviota Coast proved not to be a twist at all. In fact, on April 17, Sable was given the green light to keep doing exactly what they’re already doing.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta unsuccessfully requested that a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge issue a temporary restraining order on the Texas-based oil company for defying a cease-and-desist order issued last week by the California Coastal Commission. Sable has been conducting allegedly unpermitted work to restart coastal oil pipelines involved in the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill for months, resulting in numerous notices of violation, an $18 million penalty, and three cease-and-desist orders, two of which were not complied with.
Bonta also filed a cross-complaint on behalf of the Coastal Commission against Sable, which sued the agency in February after the commission issued its second cease-and-desist order. Sable contends that these orders are an unlawful overreach of the commission’s jurisdiction. The matter was given the go-ahead to move forward by Judge Thomas Anderle, who will hear arguments regarding a preliminary injunction against Sable on May 14…