Environmental & Energy
Apr. 29, 2026
Stuck in the middle: Federal-state clash over California offshore oil
An offshore oil operator is caught between dueling sovereigns--ordered by the federal government to produce and by California to stop--risking significant penalties no matter which command it follows.
Michael M. Berger
Senior Counsel
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
2049 Century Park East
Los Angeles , CA 90067
Phone: (310) 312-4185
Fax: (310) 996-6968
Email: mmberger@manatt.com
USC Law School
Michael M. Berger is senior counsel at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, where his practice focuses on appeals with a particular interest in constitutional land use. He has argued four takings cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Oil. We've heard a lot about it lately, and we are undoubtedly going to hear more. But here is an angle you may not have given much thought to. Several intersecting angles, actually.
There is a lot of oil in California, both onshore and off the coast. That oil is owned by private individuals and companies. Some of that offshore oil is in the Santa Barbara channel. It was once owned by Chevron, but that company sold it, and it is now owned by Sable Offsho...
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