Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced on Thursday that criminal charges have been filed against Sable Offshore Corp. for multiple environmental violations.
The company faces 5 felony counts under the California Water Code for allegedly discharging dredged material into U.S. waters.
In addition, Sable Offshore Corp. is charged with 11 misdemeanor violations of the California Fish and Game Code for activities that significantly altered the bed, bank, or channel of rivers, streams, or lakes.
The complaint also includes 5 misdemeanor violations related to the improper placement of excavated materials, potentially contaminating state waters.
The company released a statement Thursday evening:
Sable continues to lawfully work with all state and federal agencies to work towards a successful restart of Lines 324 and 325. Concerning our legal and established pipeline’s right of way and the work conducted within previously disturbed soil, we have been and continue to work with the appropriate agencies to align interpretations in the handling of backfill soil during the repair and maintenance process. We are fully cooperating and compliant with the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife requirements. The allegations from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office are inflammatory and extremely misleading. All of the repairs and excavations were supervised by a certified independent biologist and cultural resource professional and Office of State Fire Marshal personnel. No wildlife were adversely affected. All of these previously disturbed areas have been or are being remediated in accordance with state and local erosion control mitigation measures.
The arraignment is scheduled for November 4 at Santa Barbara Superior Court.
