Federal Judge Denies California Request to Halt Oil Flow Through State Park

A federal judge rejected a request from California State Parks for a temporary restraining order that would have stopped oil from flowing through a four-mile section of pipeline in Gaviota State Park. The ruling came in a dispute between Sable Offshore and state officials over an easement that expired ten years ago. The company has applied for a new 30-year easement.

Wilson wrote that State Parks had failed to show it would suffer irreparable harm without an injunction. The judge also stated that officials were grasping at straws in their arguments about a possible sinkhole. Sable's experts said the feature was a rodent burrow rather than a sinkhole.

The company resumed pumping in March after the Energy Secretary issued an order under the Defense Production Act.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has asserted federal jurisdiction over pipeline safety decisions. This position differs from documents the agency signed in 2016. The judge is expected to consider whether a 2020 consent decree still gives the State Fire Marshal final authority. The case may also address constitutional challenges to the Defense Production Act order.

Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will tour the pipeline and discuss regulatory obstacles. Sen. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have called for an investigation into communications between Sable executive James Flores and President Trump.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has sought to stop operations and remove part of the pipeline. The governor also announced a gas tax increase of about two cents per gallon beginning July 1.