Remote Surveillance Trailer in Santa Barbara, CA

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) -- Controversial offshore drilling was restarted near the Santa Barbara coastline as lingering memories of previous oil spills in the area prompted concern over another possible environmental disaster.

This comes as gas prices have continued to soar while the war in Iran drags on.

There are three oil platforms just off the coast near Goleta. All three have been shut down for the last decade after one of the worst oil spills in California history covered the nearby beach in crude oil.

Two years ago, Sable Offshore Corporation bought the platforms and has been fighting ever since to reopen them. Every time they were told no, it's not safe. But last weekend, President Donald Trump stepped in and said yes.

"This pipeline already failed once 10 years ago, caused one of the worst oil spills in California history," Alex Katz, executive director of the Environmental Defense Center. "The beaches were poisoned for miles up and down the coast. We had dead marine mammals washing up on shore. There's a real sense that we don't want to have another disaster here."

Eleven years ago, more than 140,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from a ruptured pipeline onto Refugio State Beach and into one of the most biodiverse areas of the Pacific coast.

The pipeline, and three offshore platforms that feed it, have been closed ever since. that is, until March 14 when, despite legal challenges and a lack of a go-ahead from state and local officials, Sable Offshore corporation turned the system back on.

The area has a long, troubled history with oil. Many locals are old enough to remember the 1969 spill, still California's largest, that over 10 days saw 4 million gallons enter the Santa Barbara Channel.

Another spill would be disastrous, which is why approval to restart operations had not been given. But Trump, amid his war on Iran that has put the global oil market into chaos, issued an executive order overruling the state and county. And so last weekend, Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Sable to restore operations.

"For a pipeline to sit around in the ground for 10 more years, I'm very concerned about the state of the pipeline," Brady Bradshaw, a senior oceans campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. "The California state fire marshal has said that it needs additional repairs before it can be restarted safely, so President Trump just shrugging that off is extremely unnerving."

Santa Barbara and Santa Maria on Tuesday both beat previous heat records for March 17.

Other areas along California’s coast, from Paso Robles to downtown Los Angeles, also broke heat records, according to the National Weather Service.

“It was a record kind of day today,” National Weather Service officials said.

The Santa Barbara Airport at 500 James Fowler Road saw a high of 91 degrees, breaking 1947’s record of 87, according to meteorologist Bryan Lewis.

The Santa Maria Airport at 3217 Terminal Drive recorded a high of 95 degrees, breaking the previous record of 85 set in 1978.

Santa Maria also tied its previous all-time March heat record from 2015.

Lewis had said earlier on Tuesday that both areas were poised to “smash” daily heat records.

A Heat Advisory for most valleys, lower mountain and inland coastal areas in southwest California will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service had predicted a rare, dangerous March heat wave for Santa Barbara County and other areas along the Central Coast this week.

Daily — and possibly monthly — record-breaking temperatures are expected.

Meteorologist Ryan Kittell previously told Noozhawk that this week will likely be “ the hottest March period that we’ve seen since 1988, when a lot of longtime March (heat) records were set.”

Kittell said these numbers are “extremely rare” for March.

National Weather Service officials said there is a high risk of dangerous heat illness for people of all ages, but especially for children and the elderly.

Residents are advised to stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and drink fluids. They should also limit strenuous outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Oil has begun to flow from a controversial California pipeline system for the first time in more than a decade following a Trump administration order, despite state officials decrying the move.

Sable Offshore Corporation, the Houston-based owner of the coastal pipelines, announced on Monday that offshore oil was now flowing through its Santa Ynez unit and Santa Ynez pipeline system, which runs through several California counties.

The pipeline had been closed since 2015, after a burst pipe caused a major oil spill, one of California’s worst to date. Hundreds of animals, including birds and marine wildlife, died after being coated in crude oil.

Sable, which took over ownership of the pipeline from ExxonMobile in 2024, has been attempting to restart its offshore oil production for over a year but has failed to secure necessary permits from California regulators.

On Friday, however, Donald Trump ordered the pipeline to reopen regardless of regulator approval, citing energy needs amid the war on Iran. Trump, along with the US energy secretary, Chris Wright, invoked emergency powers granted in the Defense Production Act (DPA), a cold war-era policy.

“The Trump administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” said Wright in a statement.

“Unfortunately, some state leaders have not adhered to those same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not just for their residents, but also our national security. Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that west coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness.”

Jim Flores, Sable’s chair and chief executive, said in a statement: “We look forward to working closely with the Department of Energy in fully complying with the DPA and working with the Trump administration to take all necessary steps to deliver the energy necessary for the security and defense of the country.”

California officials have been quick to condemn the latest reopening.

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has threatened to sue the Trump administration and Sable over the pipeline’s reopening.

“Donald Trump started a war, admitted it would spike gas prices nationwide, and told Americans it was a small price to pay,” said Newsom in a statement.

“Now he’s using this crisis of his own making to attempt what he’s wanted to do for years: open California’s coast for his oil industry friends so they can poison our beaches.”

The California department of parks and recreation sent Sable Offshore a notice on Saturday to “immediately remove the pipeline” and denied the company “an easement to continue to use Gaviota state park for its oil pipeline operations”.

The US-Israel war on Iran has caused the price of oil and gas to spike. Analysts say the conflict is creating one of the most significant disruptions to the oil markets to date.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which provides analysis on global energy supplies, ordered the largest release of government reserves in its history on Wednesday.

Beyond the Iran war, the Trump administration has long pledged to allow oil and gas drilling off California’s cost. A draft proposal, first reported by the Washington Post, included six offshore lease sales between 2027 to 2030 as well as an increase in drilling within the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The Guardian has contacted Gavin Newsom’s office for comment.

In a sweeping and deeply contentious move, the Trump administration has ordered the immediate reopening of a long-shuttered oil pipeline along California’s Central Coast—invoking emergency wartime powers to override state environmental laws and a pending federal court challenge.

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The directive, issued by the U.S. Energy Secretary under the Defense Production Act (DPA), compels the restart of Sable Offshore Corp.’s Santa Ynez Unit pipeline system near Santa Barbara. The pipeline has remained dormant since 2015, when it ruptured and spilled more than 450,000 gallons of crude oil in the 2015 Refugio spill, devastating miles of coastline and marine ecosystems.

“Exploiting an Iran war crisis of its own making to harm California’s coastline,” said Governor Newsom

Federal investigators determined that the rupture was caused by severe external corrosion, with sections of the pipe dangerously thinned—an issue that had gone undetected or underestimated prior to the spill. The corrosion was a major factor in why the pipeline has remained offline for over a decade. ExxonMobil’s offshore platforms, which relied on the pipeline for transporting oil, were also shut down after the spill and never resumed operations through the line, highlighting long-standing safety concerns.

The Defense Production Act—originally enacted during the Korean War—grants the federal government broad authority to direct private industry in the interest of national security. Administration officials argue that rising geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Iran, necessitate urgent action to secure domestic energy supplies.

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Critics, however, say the use of the DPA in this context is both unprecedented and dangerous.

“This is not a national emergency—it’s a political maneuver that sacrifices environmental safety for fossil fuel expansion,” said Julie Teel Simmonds, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of several groups challenging the order in court.

The federal order appears to directly challenge a recent ruling by a Santa Barbara County judge, who had tentatively blocked efforts by Sable Offshore to restart the pipeline due to unresolved safety and permitting concerns.

California regulators have also been sidelined. The California Coastal Commission previously issued a record $18 million fine against Sable Offshore for conducting unauthorized construction and repair work on the pipeline without proper permits.

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State officials argue that the pipeline remains structurally compromised—described in filings as “defective” and at risk of another catastrophic failure. Environmental advocates emphasize that the corrosion that caused the 2015 Refugio spill has never been fully addressed, raising doubts about whether the line can safely operate.

Governor Gavin Newsom sharply condemned the federal action, framing it as an abuse of power tied to foreign policy missteps.

In a statement released March 13, Newsom accused the administration of “exploiting an Iran war crisis of its own making to harm California’s coastline” and pledged immediate legal action to block the order.

“The federal government is attempting to bulldoze over the rule of law and the will of Californians. We will fight this reckless decision in every court available.”

Beyond legal questions, the environmental implications are significant. Analysts estimate that restarting the Santa Ynez Unit could add approximately 2.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually—roughly equivalent to putting 500,000 additional gasoline-powered cars on the road.

Environmental groups warn that the California coastline, still recovering from the 2015 Refugio spill, could face renewed threats from potential leaks or spills—particularly given the pipeline’s corrosion history.

“This coastline is one of the most biodiverse and economically vital regions in California. Reopening this pipeline puts everything at risk again,” said a spokesperson for a coalition of local environmental organizations.

Residents, tribal leaders, and local officials across Santa Barbara County have mobilized in opposition, staging protests and organizing legal resistance. Many are calling not just for a halt to the restart but for the pipeline’s permanent decommissioning.

“This isn’t just about oil. It’s about whether our communities have any say in what happens to our land and water,” said one Santa Barbara resident at a recent rally.

Legal challenges are expected to escalate rapidly, setting up a high-stakes confrontation between federal authority and state sovereignty. At the center of the dispute is a fundamental question: Can emergency powers override environmental protections and court rulings in the name of energy security?

For now, the future of the Santa Barbara pipeline and the fragile California coastline it runs through hangs in the balance.

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Anne Howard - Reporter / Editor-in-chief

Website: https://scopeweekly.com/

Anne Howard serves as the editor-in-chief and breaking news reporter at SW Newsmagazine, where she oversees editorial strategy, produces original reporting, and leads a team of freelance writers. She covers entertainment, culture, and breaking news, delivering stories that engage readers and provide meaningful community impact. Before launching SW Newsmagazine, she spent five years as a tech reporter at Vator News, covering startups, innovation, and venture funding. She previously worked for twelve years as an editor and reporter at Hollywood Today, reporting on the business side of the film industry and its major players. NEWS TIP: Write Anne@scopeweekly.com https://scopeweekly.com/

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Santa Barbara is positioning itself as an important center for California’s expanding agave industry, with growers, researchers, and stakeholders set to gather for the California Agave Symposium on March 23, 2026.

The annual event, hosted by the California Agave Council, will be held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

The symposium began as a central meeting point for agave growers and stakeholders and has since brought together distillers, researchers from the University of California, Davis, and others studying soil science, water use, varietal performance, and climate adaptation, according to the event website.

Former gatherings have focused on the fundamentals of planting agave, irrigation, advanced processing methods, and brand-building strategies.

While the final program has not yet been announced, the symposium is expected to include presentations, conversations, and panel discussions led by industry leaders, according to the organizers.

Participants gain new perspectives, make connections, and get a better sense of how the industry is evolving, the website states.

Attendees are encouraged to stay at the host hotel, where a discounted room block has been secured.

The first 50 tickets of the event are available at an early-bird rate, according to the organizers.

Established in 2022, the California Agave Council is a nonprofit trade association consisting of agave growers and processors. The association aims to support the state’s agave industry through marketing, legislation, research, and partnerships.

The symposium comes at a time when there is an increasing interest in agave among California growers.

The resilient, perennial plant is primarily used to make spirits like tequila and mezcal, as well as a low-glycemic sweetener known as agave nectar.

The leaves are processed into products such as ropes, mats, bags, and handicrafts. The plant also has potential uses as a biofuel and in soap and cosmetic production.

In California, agave is an emerging industry, and its production has increased as a monoculture, according to a study by the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources department.

Growing agave can be an environmentally friendly practice that helps protect ecosystems and promote sustainability. The plant grows well in arid and semi-arid conditions and can be suitable for intercropping, as it does not heavily deplete soil moisture or nutrients, according to the study.

Historically cultivated by Mexican farmers for thousands of years, agave is now being cultivated by regenerative farmers across California.