In the days after the 2015 oil spill on central California’s Refugio Beach, the golden sunlight glittering off the Pacific Ocean was dampened by yellow booms that lined the coast to contain surface oil and prevent it from spreading. Orange construction cones warned of beach and fishery closures across the coastline.
A battalion of vessels, cranes, and barges became the glaring new backdrop for one of the worst marine disasters in recent California history. It was a jarring reminder of the true cost of oil spills and a tragic reality of how dangerous offshore drilling can be.
More than 120,000 gallons of oil spewed from a break in a corroded onshore pipeline in Santa Barbara that serviced offshore oil platforms. Much of the oil ran through Refugio State Beach and into the Pacific. The spill damaged approximately 3,700 acres of habitat, killed hundreds of animals, and resulted in more than $4.5 million in economic losses.
In the decade following the spill, the pipeline was shut down, and all three offshore oil platforms it serviced were idled. While locals and visitors alike are back to enjoying Refugio Beach, compensatory restoration projects are ongoing. But now, efforts by the Trump administration put this iconic stretch of coastline at risk of another oil spill disaster.
Restarting the Oil Pipeline
In March 2026, the federal government — invoking the Defense Production Act — paved the way for the re-start of the very same pipeline that ruptured and contaminated wildlife and beaches.
This is despite widespread opposition in the state against the pipeline re-start, all while the company operating the pipeline is facing a court injunction and felony charges for violating the state’s water and wildlife codes. The California Coastal Commission has already levied an $18 million fine against Texas-based Sable Offshore Corporation, the company operating the pipeline, for defying state orders to stop work.
This decades-old pipeline, responsible for one of the worst oil spills in California history, is now back online without completing repairs required by the state — risking California’s coastal communities and environment with a disaster once again.
Offshore Drilling Threatens California’s Coast Once Again
Worse yet, the Trump administration and some in Congress are further threatening the future vibrancy of California’s ocean, communities, and coastal economy with plans to expand offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters stretching the entire length of the state’s coast.
This is despite California’s long-standing bipartisan opposition to expanded offshore drilling. No new leases have been issued in state waters since the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and California permanently banned new lease sales in 1994. No new leases have been issued in federal waters off California since 1984.
How We Can Protect California’s Coast
Californians have made it clear that their ocean backyard is not for sale. Thankfully, there is a bill before the California legislature that would protect the health of the ocean resources we value and upon which we are inextricably reliant. Assembly Bill (AB) 1448, by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), would prohibit the use of any existing infrastructure within state waters from servicing new drilling in federal waters after January 1, 2026.
The bill would also strengthen public oversight and safety requirements before approving any changes to the use of existing offshore drilling infrastructure.
This is California’s moment to take definitive action to protect our beloved beaches, significant ocean biodiversity, iconic fisheries, thriving coastal economies, and the health and safety of Californians from expanded oil drilling — forever.
Californians can help protect their coast from more disasters like the Refugio oil spill. Use your voice and stand up to protect California’s coast by signing this petition. We must heed the lessons of the Refugio Beach oil spill and make sure it never happens again.
