Santa Barbara supervisors deadlock on Sable Offshore permit transfers after hours of testimony

After nearly nine hours of testimony and public comment, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors took no final action Wednesday on applications to transfer county permits for the San Ynez Unit, the Pacific Offshore Pipeline Company (POPco) gas plant and the Las Flores Pipeline system to Sable Offshore Corporation. The board deadlocked twice on motions related to the case, leaving the county’s permit status unchanged.

The hearing, a de novo review of Planning Commission approvals, drew more than 100 public speakers and lengthy presentations from county staff, the applicant and two appellant groups. The county’s Energy Division and Planning staff recommended the board deny appeals and approve the transfers under Chapter 25B of the county code; appellants asked the board to deny the transfers, arguing Sable lacks the financial and operational capacity to operate and abandon the aging pipeline and facilities safely.

County planner Jacqueline Ybarra told the board the transfer applications are “administrative” under county rules and do not authorize restart or new construction; she said the county’s role is limited to making the Chapter 25B findings for a change of owner/operator/guarantor. Ybarra said staff determined the required findings had been met for the permit name transfers and that key state financial certificates for the San Ynez Unit had been submitted.

Sable Offshore representatives said the company has technical experience and insurance and financial resources to operate safely. Steve Rush, vice president for environmental and regulatory affairs for Sable Offshore Corporation, said Sable “is an independent oil and gas company” with an experienced California management team and that the board’s action would only change the name on existing county permits, not authorize restart. Sable’s presenters emphasized state and federal agencies have primary oversight of pipeline restart and operating safety.

Appellants and their expert witnesses said that history and the record justify a different result. Linda Cropp, chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center, opened appellant…