DON’T ENABLE SABLE

Last Thursday, our community celebrated a big win in the fight to protect our coast from renewed oil drilling on the Gaviota Coast and the threat of another disastrous spill. In front of a packed hearing room, the California Coastal Commission held Sable Offshore Corp. accountable for its disregard for the law, levying the company with an $18M fine, a permanent cease and desist order until it obtains permits, and a restoration order to address the significant impacts of the unpermitted work on the oil pipeline, which harmed habitats, wildlife, and watersheds. Thank YOU for showing up!

But we can’t let up. This week, our Regional Water Quality Control Board is considering additional enforcement action against Sable for violating laws that protect our creeks, streams, and wetlands. Will you join us this Thursday, April 17th, to support the Board as it stands up against Sable?

As it rushes to restart its corroded pipelines — the same ones that caused the Refugio Oil Spill — Sable has been conducting extensive, unpermitted work along the pipeline route. In addition to harming coastal resources, the work has impacted sensitive wetlands and creeks in violation of critical water quality laws, like the Clean Water Act. Despite several notices of violation from the Board, Sable has continued its work, ignoring the Board and the important laws it upholds.

On Thursday, the Board will vote on a resolution to request enforcement assistance from the California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, which will allow it to pursue an injunction and significant monetary penalties against Sable for its violations. The Board’s staff thinks such measures are necessary to deter Sable from further violations and prevent harm to our wetlands and streams.

LET’S MOBILIZE!

WAYS TO JOIN US ON THURSDAY APRIL 17, 9AM

• IN-PERSON (Agenda)
  Watsonville City Council Chambers
  275 Main Street, 4th Floor, Watsonville
  
  
• COMMENT VIRTUALLY
  Sign up to speak virtually (by 9AM April 17)

TALKING POINTS:

• Sable’s unpermitted construction work on the Las Flores Pipeline System is part of its broader effort to bring offshore drilling back to the Gaviota Coast;
• Sable has conducted extensive work along the 120-mile pipeline system, including in “waters of the state,” without getting authorization from the RWQCB, as required by law;
• Sable’s violations of the Water Code and RWQCB’s directives are part of a broader pattern of disregarding state law and regulation;
• Sable’s conduct requires enforcement measures beyond those which the RWQCB can take administratively, including judicially-imposed injunctive relief and monetary penalties sufficient to act as a meaningful deterrence;
• Urge the RWQCB to adopt staff’s Proposed Resolution to refer the matter to the Attorney General for enforcement.