Coastal Commission Issues Second Cease and Desist Order to Sable
On February 18, 2025, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) issued a second cease and desist order to Sable Offshore Corp. for “unpermitted development” within the Coastal Zone along the Las Flores Pipelines. Sable is working along the pipeline route as part of its effort to restart the pipelines and restart oil production at its Santa Ynez Unit. On the same day as the Commission issued the order, Sable filed a lawsuit against the Coastal Commission.
The conflict between Sable and the Coastal Commission is over whether Sable’s work on the pipeline is repair and maintenance, which does not require a new permit, or new development, which would require a new permit until the Coastal Act. The Commission issued its first cease and desist order to Sable in November.
In this latest development, Sable cites a February 12, 2025 letter from Santa Barbara County energy planner that states that Sable’s work is authorized under the original pipeline permits issued in 1988. Santa Barbara County, however, maintains that, under a legal settlement with the original pipeline owner, it does not have jurisdiction over underground work done on the pipeline, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.
The order lists both onshore and offshore unpermitted activities. Onshore activities include “excavation with heavy equipment; removal of major vegetation; grading and widening of roads; installation of metal plates over water courses; dewatering and discharge of water; pipeline removal, replacement, and reinforcement; installation of shutoff valves; and other development associated with the Las Flores Pipelines.” Offshore activities include “placing sand/cement bags and pallets on the seafloor below and adjacent to Sable’s out-of-service offshore oil and water pipelines.”
More specifically, the work, according to the order, involves using a remotely operated vehicle to “place concrete bags and pallets along more than 750 linear feet of the pipelines to create support piers along 14 identified spans of between 41 and 70 feet.” These activities occurred from November 29, 2024, to December 1, 2024.
Sable’s Lawsuit
In its suit against the Coastal Commission, Sable argues that the Notice of Violation and Cease and Desist Order are a “taking of [Sable’s] vested right to [own and] operate the Las Flores Pipelines and SYU Pipelines without prior compensation.” The lawsuit states that the Commission’s actions “unlawfully prevent [Sable’s] repair and maintenance activities along portions of the Pipelines.”
The complaint notes that Santa Barbara County has analyzed and authorized the “anomaly repair work,” a prior Consent Decree requires the work, and a settlement agreement with the County authorizes the valve replacement work. Sable also argued that the maintenance activities are within the scope of the existing plan and coastal development permit and do not require further approvals.