The U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion on Tuesday that President Donald Trump could order Sable Offshore Corp. to restart oil production using the Defense Production Act, bypassing state requirements and approvals.

The DOJ issued an opinion stating that the president could order the company to begin continuous production under the Defense Production Act.

The department said in its statement that restarting production through the Santa Ynez Pipeline System would help “address energy vulnerabilities on the West Coast.”

The Santa Ynez Unit includes oil production offshore platforms, a processing facility and transportation pipeline system in Santa Barbara County. The pipeline along the Gaviota Coast ruptured in 2015, causing the Refugio Oil Spill.

The pipeline, which was owned by Plains All American at the time, was later purchased by Sable. The Texas-based oil company has been working to restart the pipeline and faces multiple legal challenges.

Most recently, an injunction stating that the company must receive approval from the Office of the State Fire Marshal was upheld by a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge.

The company also needs permissions and easements from state parks.

Sable has made efforts to bypass state authority by appealing to the federal government. The company recently asked the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to take control of the pipeline oversight.

PHMSA sided with Sable and took over oversight of the pipelines in December. The agency and Sable attempted to convince the judge that the previous injunction against the restart was not valid, but Judge Donna Geck disagreed.

Geck confirmed that the company still needed state approval to restart production.

Linda Krop, the chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center, criticized the decision and said allowing the pipeline to restart without the necessary repairs puts the environment, local economy, and the safety of Californians at risk.

“Even in these unprecedented times, this abuse of executive power would be staggering,” said Krop. “The federal administration is threatening to prop up a company that has flouted the law and failed to make necessary repairs identified by state regulators.”

Krop stated that the presidential order would exempt Sable from any laws that get in its way.

“This is bigger than any one oil project,” she said. “Anyone who cares about state sovereignty, law and order, and our environment should be outraged. We are exploring all options to challenge what would be a blatantly unlawful order.”