On July 18, 2025, Santa Barbara County Judge Donna Geck issued a preliminary injunction against the Office of the State Fire Marshal, finding that it likely violated state law in its approval of a waiver that allowed Sable to restart the pipeline. The injunction effectively extends a temporary restraining order against the Fire Marshal and Sable, aimed at blocking a waiver from the state fire marshal that allowed Sable to restart the pipeline.
The injunction prevents the Fire Marshal and Sable from proceeding with the restart of the Las Flores Pipeline System until 10 days after it gives notice to the court that it received the necessary approvals and permits. Environmental groups can file another challenge within that time.
The injunction is part of a 2024 suit that the Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity filed against the Fire Marshal. The groups argued that the fire marshal did not comply with environmental review and pipeline safety laws before issuing the waivers for the pipeline.
Sable maintains that it has permission to restart the pipeline under the federal consent decree.