Ongoing Work: How will you control dust and particles during operations?

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We are committed to ensuring all work moves at the speed of safety. This means taking steps to ensure fine particles (like dust) from Vistra’s work do not pose a risk to the community or workers.

We required (pdf) Vistra to submit several work plans specific to fine particle and dust control.

• These plans detail:
  • community air monitoring and sampling,
  • work zone air monitoring and sampling,
  • demolition* dust control measures, and
  • ensuring air monitoring and air sampling quality assurance.
• The plans are designed to prevent contaminants from reaching elevated readings.
• The plans also include corrective steps to be done in case of elevated readings, even if they do not exceed the standards.
• We approved these plans in August 2025, and they continue to be in effect. Air monitoring and air sampling have been active at the site, at the plant perimeter, and in the community since the January fire.

*Note: Moss Landing 300 (also called “ML300”) was damaged in the fire and demolition activities will be necessary to remove all the batteries and battery ash. Vistra plans to demolish the entire building to its foundation. EPA will continue overseeing operations at ML300, including building demolition, until the batteries are removed. Once battery removal is done, any remaining work, including further demolition, will fall under county and/or state oversight.

Using Best Practices

Good worksite hygiene is key to contain contamination at building and on site. Throughout battery removal and demolition work, Vistra will use best practices to work clean and keep dust down.

• Batteries will be cleaned before sent to the battery-handling area. Cleaning includes using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter and wiping the batteries down.
• Workers will wear full body suits (Tyvek) in the building- then, when they leave the building, they will go through a systematic removal of the suits (called decontamination) to avoid tracking dust out.
• Water will be used to suppress dust during demolition and any work that disturbs the burned material.
  • Water trucks will apply water on site.
  • Workers will continually inspect the work zone for dust entering the air and act when needed.
  • Large water misters (see photo) can throw a fine mist over long distances and will provide additional dust control during demolition activities.
• Frequent cleaning of on-site pavement (street sweepers), equipment, etc.

For more information, see our FAQ “What will EPA and Vistra do if there are elevated readings detected by the air monitors?”

Related Questions

• Ongoing Work: What are the contaminants of concern?
• Ongoing Work: Can the building be covered or tented?
• Ongoing Work: How is the air monitoring and air sampling data being used to protect the community and the environment?
• Ongoing Work: What will EPA and Vistra do if there are elevated readings detected by the air monitors?
• Ongoing Work: How will you prevent the contamination from moving off site when it rains?