Buellton Joins Goleta in Opposing Sable Pipeline Ahead of Supervisors’ Meeting
Councilmembers Call for More Environmental Review and Request that Sable and County Supervisors Consider Rerouting Pipeline Around City
Buellton’s City Council joined the City of Goleta in voting to declare its opposition to the restart of Sable Offshore’s oil pipeline. The pipeline — a portion of which ruptured in the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill — runs beneath residential areas in Buellton, and city councilmembers want it rebuilt and rerouted.
“The City of Buellton is the only city in the county that the pipeline runs directly through,” said City Manager Scott Wolfe during the council meeting on February 13. While it’s unclear whether any homes lie directly atop the underground pipeline, the pipeline easement applies to at least 30 homes.
After much deliberation — including some passionate discussion between Mayor David Silva and Councilmember John Sanchez — the Buellton City Council voted 2-1 to declare their opposition to transferring permits from previous owner ExxonMobil to Sable Offshore. This decision will go before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on February 25.
