California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Sable Offshore Corp. accusing the company of releasing waste into the Pacific Ocean without the required environmental permits. The lawsuit is the latest legal development in the state’s opposition to Sable’s restart of oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara.
In a lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on October 3, 2025, Bonta alleged that Sable “excavated and discharged material” into waterways during pipeline repair work. The complaint states that the discharges could have affected water quality in the “rich aquatic and riparian habitat” of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
“Rushing to meet a July 1, 2025 deadline imposed by the California Office of State Fire Marshal for restarting its onshore crude oil pipeline network, Sable intentionally ignored its obligations under California Water Code (Water Code) sections 13260, et seq. to apply to the Regional Water Board for permits before it proposes to discharge waste that could affect the water quality of the state,” the complaint states.
“By avoiding the imposition of waste discharge requirements and associated regulatory oversight of its activities until after the work was completed, Sable placed profits over environmental protection in its rush to get oil on the market,” it states.
Sable began the repair of the pipelines in its Santa Ynez Unit in September 2024. The Santa Ynez Unit has been shut down since the pipelines caused the 2015 oil spill. In April 2025, the California Coastal Commission voted to fine Sable $18 million for refusing to comply with its orders to stop work on the oil pipeline. Sable argued that previously issued coastal development permits authorized the repair and maintenance work. Restarting the pipelines is a critical part of the company’s plan to restart onshore and offshore operations.
The state seeks civil penalties and injunctive relief to stop future violations.