Gaviota Coast

President Donald Trump is expanding the Interior Department’s authority over energy projects under the Defense Production Act. The order could affect the Central Coast where the administration has already invoked the federal law to support a pipeline restart off the Santa Barbara coast.

The company behind the controversial restart of an oil pipeline on the Gaviota Coast is now asking the Trump Administration to help secure land to continue operations.

California Democrats are demanding answers from an oil company that overstepped state law to restart offshore oil production near Santa Barbara.

A judge decided Tuesday morning to maintain restrictions on restarting a controversial oil pipeline along California’s Central Coast. The decision comes after environmental groups say the operator ignored a court order.

California officials are pushing back after the Trump Administration ordered the restart of a controversial oil pipeline system off the Santa Barbara coast. State regulators say they’re preparing for possible legal action over the company restarting the pipeline, without required state approvals, and over a federal order allowing the company to bypass California law.