Santa Barbara County supervisors oppose federal land seizure for oil pipeline

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to officially oppose the Hunt Amendment, a federal proposal that would allow the Pentagon to use eminent domain to seize public land for Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil pipeline.

The amendment, proposed by Texas Representative Wesley Hunt as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, could allow the federal government to claim sections of land, including state parks, near the Santa Ynez Unit infrastructure. Supervisors Laura Capps, Steve Lavagnino, and Roy Lee supported the opposition letter, citing the need to maintain local control over land use and ensure pipeline safety. Capps noted that the proposal could undermine the ability of state and county authorities to enforce safety guidelines.

Supervisor Bob Nelson voted against the opposition, suggesting that some environmental organizations are using ‘litigation warfare’ to disrupt operations. Sable Offshore Corp. recently restarted oil and gas operations in the region, which includes offshore production and pipeline transportation.