Sander Kushen, sander.kushen@sierraclub.org
Jon Ullman, jonathan.ullman@sierraclub.org
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — An imminent decision could fast-track the reopening of the same pipeline that caused the devastating 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill. Sable Offshore Corporation, a publicly-traded Houston start-up company (NYSE:SOC), wants to restart this risky pipeline to resume pumping oil from three offshore oil platforms to processing facilities in Santa Barbara.
The California Fire Marshal’s office will decide whether or not to grant a crucial waiver to Sable Offshore. This waiver could effectively rubber-stamp the resumption of drilling operations using the same pipeline that ruptured nine years ago while circumventing the normal environmental review process.
The 2015 Refugio Beach disaster released 450,000 gallons of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel, resulting in the deaths of over 300 birds and marine mammals, including sea lions and dolphins. Operations have been suspended ever since.
In response, Jonathan Ullman, Director of the Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, issued the following statement:
“Federal officials have already determined the Plains Pipeline is corroded. Trying to use it now, nine years after the Refugio State Beach disaster, would be incredibly irresponsible.
“Dozens of environmental groups asked for this process to be open to the public, but the California State Fire Marshal’s office said it will make the decision internally and brief the public afterwards. The speed of this has come as a complete surprise to everyone. Now, with the review in the final stages, we’re very concerned this corroded, destructive pipeline will get the green light again.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.