Chicago – Janauary 25, 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration, challenging federal approval for Sable Offshore Corp. to restart two onshore oil pipelines in Santa Barbara and Kern counties.
The suit alleges the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) unlawfully claimed exclusive jurisdiction over the pipelines, which are entirely within state boundaries and do not cross into federal waters.
The pipelines, idle since a 2015 rupture caused California’s largest coastal oil spill in decades—releasing over 140,000 gallons and killing wildlife like seals and dolphins—now risk similar environmental catastrophe, Bonta argued at Dockweiler State Beach. He accused the administration of a “power grab” to favor fossil fuel interests, undermining state protections.
This marks an escalation in clashes between President Trump’s energy-boosting agenda—reversing Biden-era offshore drilling bans—and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s climate policies. PHMSA defended the move, citing relief for high California gas prices, while Sable declined comment. Environmental groups hailed the suit as vital for coastal safeguards.
