Thursday was a big day in the battle over an oil company’s efforts to repair and restart the Santa Barbara County oil pipeline, which ruptured in 2015, causing a massive oil spill.
A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge denied the State Coastal Commission’s request for a temporary restraining order to halt Sable Offshore Corporation’s work on the project.
The Commission contends that new permits are needed. Sable argues that the work is covered by existing permits issued by Santa Barbara County and the Commission. The Coastal Commission has issued multiple cease-and-desist orders against Sable and last week hit the company with what could be an $18 million fine…