A Santa Barbara County judge on Wednesday refused to lift an injunction blocking Sable Offshore Corp. from restarting its onshore pipelines, while forcing the company to confirm that no oil is currently flowing through the system.

Judge Donna Geck upheld a July order requiring the Houston-based company to provide 10 days' notice before any restart. The decision came despite arguments from Sable attorney Jeffery Dintzer that federal oversight now supersedes California’s authority, rendering the state-level injunction moot.

“The court does not have jurisdiction,” Dintzer said, arguing that the Las Flores pipeline system qualifies as an interstate pipeline under federal law. He added that the injunction costs the company millions of dollars daily, claiming, “We could restart today.”

Geck remained skeptical, pointing to a related pending appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals expected this spring. Deputy Attorney General Michael Dorsi, representing the state, called the jurisdictional issues "complicated" and warned against a rushed decision.

The case saw increased state involvement this week as California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office officially entered the proceedings to oppose Sable’s attempt to expedite the timeline.

Environmental groups expressed relief following the hearing. Under direct questioning from the court and opposing counsel regarding the company’s transparency, Dintzer confirmed that no oil has yet entered the pipelines.

“It’s a huge relief to learn there’s no oil in the onshore pipelines yet,” said Julie Teel Simmonds, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. She noted that Sable still requires several approvals, including a coastal development permit and an easement from State Parks.

Geck approved a compromise schedule for the case, with the next hearing scheduled for Feb. 27. For now, the injunction remains in place.