The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board accused Sable Offshore Corp. of performing work on the oil pipelines that caused the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill along the Santa Barbara coast without proper permits and discharging waste into nearby state waterways without authorization. The board voted unanimously on April 18, 2025 to refer the matter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The Central Coast Water Board had been aware of the pipeline work along Line 324 and Line 325 since August 2024 and observed and documented the company discharging waste into state waters. The board notified Sable of a potential violation in December 2024 and required the company to submit a report of waste discharge to obtain permit coverage.
Sable responded to the order and requested the permit applications to perform restoration work at some of the sites in which it had already performed unauthorized work, according the Board. The Board states that the company continued with the work at new locations without filing required reports of waste discharge.
In January 2025, the Board issued an order requiring Sable to submit information on land disturbances and water discharges. Sable reportedly responded in part and did not all of the requested information.
Sable has maintained that local and state permits authorize the repair and maintenance work.
The pipeline work has been subject to scrutiny from other agencies. On April 10, 2025, the California Coastal Commission voted to fine Sable $18 million for refusing to comply with its orders to stop work on the pipeline.