House-passed bill includes seizing land for Santa Ynez pipelineJuly 29, 2026By KAREN VELIEThe House of Representatives passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act last week with an amendment likely to put an end to the battle over pumping oil off the coast of Santa Barbara and transporting it through the Santa Ynez pipeline system. Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt authored the amendment that would allow the Pentagon to enact easements along Sable Offshore’s pipeline on both private and public lands. The amendment allows Sable to transport oil pumped off the coast of Santa Barbara to refineries supplying military installations. California Democrats, including Rep. Salud Carbajal from Santa Barbara, argued Hunt’s amendment whittles away state authority and rigs the system for a Houston-based oil company. These properties include approximately three miles of state-owned land off the Santa Barbara coast, roughly four miles where pipeline crosses through Gaviota State Park, and a privately owned parcel of land near Buellton.