Sable Offshore Pushes for Federal Land Seizure Amid Legal Battle in California

Sable Offshore is ramping up its efforts in its dispute with California. The company has now requested that President Trump take action to seize both federal and private lands, including parts of state parks, to keep the Santa Barbara oil pipeline system running.

In a recently leaked letter dated June 2, the Houston-based oil firm urged the U.S. Department of Energy to invoke eminent domain to condemn various properties along the pipeline route. This appeal is tied to the West Coast Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan, as reported initially by Politico Pro.

This plea marks another significant chapter in Sable’s tense legal standoff with California state officials, who are actively trying to halt the company’s pipeline operations due to environmental concerns and ongoing permitting conflicts.

The letter claims that federal intervention is essential, arguing that both California agencies and private landowners are imposing barriers that jeopardize the project.

Properties earmarked for possible federal seizure reportedly include around three miles of submerged land off Santa Barbara’s coast, approximately four miles of pipeline running through Gaviota State Park, and a privately owned undeveloped land north of Buellton, where Sable is currently in a dispute with a landowner.

Interestingly, this request surfaces after Sable recently resumed oil production, having acquired emergency federal approval earlier in the year from the Trump administration. This decision, however, is being contested in court by California, alongside other enforcement actions ongoing against the firm.

Sable’s current legal struggles stem from attempts to utilize permits that date back to the 1980s for repairs and to restart its pipeline after the disastrous Refugio oil spill in 2015. Last month, California’s Second District Court ruled against the company, siding with the California Coastal Commission.

Regardless of these setbacks, Sable remains determined to continue its fight. The company is even contemplating appealing to the California Supreme Court while still transporting oil via the pipeline.

Sable asserts that, according to federal law, the government can claim private land for public utility, assuming fair compensation is provided. However, seizing state-owned land that primarily serves private companies may present significant legal challenges and would almost certainly face opposition in court.

Legal experts commonly maintain that while Congress has conferred extraordinary territorial powers for certain energy projects, seizing state property for Sable’s benefit could ignite a substantial legal conflict over state rights versus federal authority.

Environmental advocates have condemned this proposal. Talia Nimmer, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, described it as an “outrageous abuse of federal power,” arguing that it’s illegal to claim a beloved California park for a private oil company’s expansion. She added that officials should reconsider granting such a request, especially following the harm caused by recent leaks from the pipeline system.

At the core of the contention is the same pipeline system that experienced a rupture back in 2015, releasing over 100,000 gallons of crude oil onto the Santa Barbara coast. Sable plans to restart production in 2024 after acquiring assets from ExxonMobil, but it continues to face numerous lawsuits and enforcement actions from California regulators. The request for federal land seizure represents its boldest move yet to overcome state pushback.

The California Post has reached out to both Sable Offshore and the Department of Energy for comments.