Trump Administration Reopens Santa Barbara Oil Pipeline After 11-Year Shutdown as Iran War Tightens Supply
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13
Trump Administration Reopens Santa Barbara Oil Pipeline After 11-Year Shutdown as Iran War Tightens Supply
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13
Summary
March orders from the Trump administration forced the reopening of a Santa Barbara crude pipeline that had sat dormant since a 2015 spill.
An oil shortage tied to the war in Iran drove the move, overriding California’s long-running effort to limit offshore drilling and protect the coast.
Sable, the Texas-based owner, now faces lawsuits from California officials and environmental groups, who argue the line remains vulnerable to another rupture because the 2015 burst was caused by corrosion.
The fight has turned a local pipeline into a broader test of Trump’s push for more domestic oil production in a state where coastal environmental protections are politically central.