PHMSA Grants Emergency Permit for Santa Ynez Pipeline Segments

PHMSA has issued an emergency special permit for segments of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System, allowing Sable Offshore to operate under enhanced integrity and safety requirements.

(P&GJ) — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an emergency special permit allowing Sable Offshore Corp. to implement enhanced integrity management practices on portions of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System.

PHMSA approved the permit on Dec. 23 for interstate pipeline segments 324 and 325, according to the company. The permit authorizes Sable Offshore to operate the affected segments under specific conditions while applying additional integrity and operational measures beyond standard regulatory requirements.

The agency’s Letter of Decision outlines the approved integrity management practices and operating conditions tied to the emergency permit. The documentation is available through the Federal Docket Management System under docket number PHMSA-2025-1502.

Emergency special permits are issued by PHMSA when an operator demonstrates that alternative safety measures can provide an equivalent or greater level of pipeline safety under defined conditions.