With surmounting pressure from Sable and the oil industry, a handful of California’s regulatory agencies and court judges are maintaining opposition. The California Coastal Commission and California State Lands Commission have held fast, issuing fines and public statements as recently as May, when Sable falsely claimed it had restarted oil production at the Santa Ynez Unit. Despite the Coastal Commission’s $18 million penalty and cease-and-desist, Sable is attempting to push forward in all directions.

By obtaining a CEQA exemption from California State Parks and waivers from corrosion-prevention and remediation requirements from the Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM), Sable is singling out the agencies that serve it and trying to sway the state’s opinion in its favor. This summer, a judge granted a temporary restraining order and an injunction against OSFM and Sable, but the company still claims it is aiming to restart production this year. Governor Gavin Newsom has remained silent, ignoring emails and letters from thousands of residents, state legislators, 23 members of congress, and dozens of organizations.

Constituents are tirelessly continuing to mobilize to target Gov. Newsom and State Parks Director Armando Quintero, despite the current administration’s call to reopen the coast to drilling and the issuance of a national oil emergency.