A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge on Friday upheld a preliminary injunction against Sable Offshore, blocking the company’s immediate plans to restart production and transport oil through two controversial coastal pipelines.

The ruling by Judge Donna Geck ensures the pipelines will remain dormant for at least four months. 

The decision centers on a jurisdictional tug-of-war between federal authorities and California state regulators over the Gaviota Coast infrastructure, which has been shuttered since a 2015 rupture spilled 142,000 gallons of crude oil.

Sable Offshore argued that the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) holds exclusive authority over the restart. 

In December, PHMSA designated the lines as "interstate" and issued an emergency permit to begin pumping.

"The court has no legal authority whatsoever," Sable attorney Jeffrey Dintzer told the court, arguing that only federal courts could intervene.

However, California’s attorney general, the state fire marshal, and environmental advocacy groups including the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) pointed to a 2020 legal settlement. 

They argued that the consent decree gives the California State Fire Marshal ultimate oversight regarding the safety and reactivation of the lines.

Judge Geck’s ruling maintains that Sable must secure all necessary state permits and provide a 10-day notice period before any oil flows. She rejected a last-minute filing by Sable that attempted to renounce previously issued state waivers, citing its "untimely" submission.

"The court is not persuaded that administrative actions taken by PHMSA necessarily eliminates [the Office of the State Fire Marshal] participation in the restart process," Geck wrote in her decision.

In January, a Santa Barbara County judge refused to lift an injunction blocking Sable Offshore Corp. from restarting its onshore pipelines, and compelled the company to confirm that no oil is currently flowing through the pipeline.

The standoff highlights the friction between the pro-production stance of the current federal administration and California’s stringent environmental regulations. While Sable views the delay as a significant financial burden, environmental groups hailed the decision as a necessary safeguard for the Gaviota Coast.

The legal battle now moves to two fronts: Judge Geck scheduled a follow-up hearing for June 27, while the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule in July on whether federal jurisdiction supersedes state authority in this case.