California Sues Trump Energy Department Over Revival of Controversial Oil Pipeline
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated legal action against the US energy department to halt the restart of the long-disputed Sable Offshore pipeline system. This move comes after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright invoked powers granted by former President Donald Trump to supersede state laws and reactivate the pipelines.
Allegations of Federal Overreach
In a press conference held on Monday, Bonta condemned the decision as an outrageous federal overreach. He asserted that Wright's restart order violates state law, state court orders, and a settlement previously approved by a federal court. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court, seeks a judicial ruling that the order breaches both federal law and the US Constitution.
Background of the Pipeline Dispute
The Santa Ynez platform, linked to the Sable Offshore pipelines, was shut down following a significant 2015 spill that released over 100,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, contaminating beaches near Santa Barbara. This legal challenge represents the latest escalation in ongoing conflicts between Trump, who advocates for increased domestic fossil-fuel production, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat pushing for aggressive climate change policies.
Global Context and Industry Response
Wright's order was issued amid surging global fuel prices, attributed to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Sable Offshore reported that it commenced shipping hydrocarbons from Las Flores Canyon to Pentland Station on 14 March, with expectations to sell 50,000 barrels per day by 1 April. Spokespersons for the US energy department and Sable Offshore have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Political Reactions and Previous Litigation
Governor Newsom criticized the move in a statement on 13 March, accusing Trump of exploiting a crisis to benefit the oil industry at the expense of California's environment. This lawsuit follows a prior legal action in January, where California contested the Trump administration's reclassification of the Sable pipelines as interstate, despite their operation solely within California counties. That case remains pending before the ninth US circuit court of appeals.
