Exxon Mobil, Sable to Face New Hearing on Stalled Permits (1)

The Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors must decide whether to issue permits allowing Sable Offshore Corp. to restart oil production on the California coast, a federal judge ruled, finding county law requires the municipal authority to affirm, reverse, or modify those development plans.

The board’s tie vote on an environmental group’s appeal of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission’s approval of Sable offshore drilling platform permits and the Las Flores Pipeline constituted “no action,” violating its discretionary duty under California Civil Code, the US District Court for the Central District of California said.

Chief Judge Dolly M. Gee issued ...