Why did Trump reopen California’s Santa Barbara oil pipeline after 11 years? Explained

Why did Trump reopen California’s Santa Barbara oil pipeline after 11 years? Explained

By Durva More, Hindustan Times (July 14, 2026)

“Safety experts say the pipeline design remains vulnerable to corrosion. Bill Caram, Executive Director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, said the pipeline is “more susceptible to failure than most pipelines”, as quoted by The New York Times. Environmental groups fear another oil spill could happen. Sable and the Trump administration reject those concerns. They say the pipeline now has better leak detection systems.”