The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an attempt to stay the approval of Sable Offshore Corp.’s pipeline restart plan. The lawsuit will proceed on an expedited basis with opening briefs due January 26, 2025.
Environmental groups sued the Trump administration on December 24, 2025 over its approval of Sable’s request for an “emergency” waiver from federal safety regulations over the restart of the Las Flores Pipeline System. The groups argued that the administration bypassed federal requirements in its approval of the pipeline restart plan.
On December 19, 2025, the federal government took regulatory authority over the Las Flores Pipeline System, which connects the Santa Ynez Unit to the Pentland Station terminal in Kern County.
Shortly after, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) approved Sable’s restart plan for the pipeline.
Reportedly, there is not yet production at the Santa Ynez Unit.