California Sues Over Federal Approval To Restart Two Oil Pipelines
California filed a Jan. 23, 2025 petition challenging PHMSA’s approval to restart the Las Flores and Santa Ynez pipelines.
Boston HeraldCalifornia sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines along the coast
FOX NewsCalifornia sues Trump administration over alleged 'unlawful' pipeline restart approval years after oil spill
USA TODAYCalifornia challenges federal takeover of two oil pipelines
Overview
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Jan. 23, 2025, seeking to overturn PHMSA’s order allowing Sable Offshore Corp. to restart two pipelines.
Bonta said PHMSA unlawfully federalized pipelines that begin in Santa Barbara County and end in Kern County, usurping state regulatory authority and prompting the legal challenge at a news conference.
A Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration spokesperson said in an email that PHMSA redesignated the Las Flores Pipeline as interstate after Sable's submission and that restarting it will bring "much needed American energy" to California.
The 2015 Refugio spill released 140,000 gallons (3,300 barrels) and fouled about 150 miles of coast, state officials said, though other accounts cite different volumes.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will review the petition, which could block Sable Offshore Corp.'s restart pending litigation and determine whether PHMSA lawfully assumed jurisdiction, Bonta said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally: they report both California’s legal and environmental concerns and the federal agency’s energy-focused response, include direct quotes from the attorney general, PHMSA, and environmental groups, and provide factual background on the 2015 spill and recent executive and court actions to balance context.