Environmental Groups Applaud County Board Decision to NOT Transfer Permits for Dangerous Oil Project
February 25, 2025
Tie vote is a major setback for Sable Offshore Corp., the company attempting to restart a defective pipeline and other aging equipment on the Gaviota Coast
SANTA BARBARA, CA – Environmental groups including the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) and its clients applauded a Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decision on Tuesday to NOT approve the transfer of permits to operate defective and highly dangerous oil and gas equipment on the Gaviota Coast.
Sable Offshore Corp., a new Texas oil company, applied to take over permits for equipment formerly owned by ExxonMobil, including two huge fossil fuel processing stations and a failed pipeline that broke 10 years ago, causing one of the largest oil spills in California history. Hundreds of people including many UCSB students attended the hearing on Tuesday wearing “Don’t Enable Sable” stickers to oppose the transfer. Speakers pointed out that Sable has not demonstrated the financial ability to deal with another spill, cannot be trusted to operate the equipment responsibly, and cannot comply with the permit conditions requiring effective corrosion protection for the pipeline – all of which are conditions for transfer of the permits.
The Board’s 2-2 vote means the company’s application was not approved and the transfer of permits will not happen. Without permits, Sable cannot operate the facilities unless it works out an agreement with Exxon – plus the company still needs approvals from multiple state agencies.
Sable’s restart of Exxon’s former operation, including three 1980s-era offshore drilling platforms that have been shut down since the 2015 spill, has hit a number of snags, including a dozen Notices of Violation and stop work orders from the state Coastal Commission and other agencies. Sable has blatantly ignored those orders and has continued working to complete repairs on the pipeline.
EDC represents Get Oil Out! (GOO), the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN), the Sierra Club, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in this case. For more information and a copy of EDC’s comment letter to the County Board, go to Sable’s Dangerous Oil Project.
The groups released the following statements Tuesday:
Linda Krop, EDC Chief Counsel
We applaud the Board of Supervisors’ decision to NOT transfer permits to Sable to operate a defective pipeline and dangerous processing facilities on our shores. The Board was right to effectively deny the transfer to Sable, which has been rushing to complete repairs despite multiple notices of violation and stop work orders from the Coastal Commission and other state agencies. An oil company with clear disregard for state law cannot be trusted to operate a high-risk project with potentially disastrous consequences if and when something goes wrong.
SBCAN Co-Executive Director Ken Hough
Santa Barbara County Action Network has been opposed to the transfer of ownership and permits from ExxonMobil to Sable Offshore for nearly two years. In light of Sable’s recent history of disregarding orders from state and local regulators, SBCAN is relieved that the County Board exercised its discretion today in not approving the transfer of permits to Sable Offshore.
Ted Morton, Executive Director of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Barbara showed up and stood up for the sensitive Gaviota Coast and marine environment today. It was impressive to see the enthusiastic support leading to the positive decision to not transfer the permits to Sable.
Jonathan Ullman, Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter Director
This is a huge victory for the people of this community. We will not be swayed.
Michael Lyons, President of Get Oil Out!
Sable is uniquely vulnerable to financial insolvency. It would be a grave mistake to transfer responsibility for operating these facilities to Sable.
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The Environmental Defense Center defends nature and advances environmental justice on California’s Central Coast through advocacy and legal action. Since 1977, EDC has represented more than 140 nonprofit, community-based organizations to protect the Central Coast and the Earth’s climate. EDC is funded through private donations, receiving no government assistance. Learn more at www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org.
