Don't Enable Sable - Stop the Oil Restart

In March 2026, a federal order fast-tracked the restart of some of the offshore oil operations along the Santa Barbara coast, reviving the same pipeline system responsible for the 2015 Plains All American spill at Santa Barbara's Refugio State Beach. Along with California's top state officials and other ocean advocates, Surfrider Foundation is fighting back.

Offshore drilling is a dirty and dangerous practice that harms the environment, communities, and businesses, while worsening climate change. Further, increasing offshore oil drilling is not needed to meet our nation’s energy needs. Especially using a pipeline with a history of corrosion and anomalies.

The Surfrider Santa Barbara Chapter has been engaged in this campaign for years convincing the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission to 'Don't Enable Sable' and it's disheartening to see this federal government overreach of states rights. The issue is mainly in courts currently and we appreciate the efforts of all of the Don't Enable Sable coalitions partners including, but not limited to, the Environmental Defense Center, Center for Biological Diversity, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, and the Fearless Grandmothers.