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  1. Home
  2. EPA in California
  3. Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire
  4. Frequently Asked Questions

Other Testing or Sampling: Has the ash been sampled in the damaged building?

Return to: Frequently Asked Questions

The damaged portion of Moss Landing 300 is unsafe to enter due to structural instability. We expect material in the building’s ash to include soot, debris, and burned battery material, as well as building materials. Ash, debris, and any other remaining material will be sampled before disposal or recycling.

We continue air monitoring and air sampling for the contaminants of concern. See the full list here at: “What are the contaminants of concern?”

We started building stabilization and targeted demolition in August 2025 that allows workers to safely enter key, unburned areas of the building to remove batteries.

  • We have directed Vistra to take a “worst first” approach to remove intact batteries. This means removing batteries we know have more stored electricity. This will reduce the risk of a fire flare-up.

After removing the intact batteries, we will move on to removal of fire damaged batteries.

  • To remove burned or damaged batteries, we must demolish the structure and remove building debris and other materials.
  • Each waste stream will be sampled and categorized before disposal or recycling.
  • Sampling results direct where material is disposed or recycled.

Related Questions

  • Other Testing or Sampling: Did EPA take wipe samples on-site?
  • Other Testing or Sampling: Did EPA sample for black carbon?
  • Other Testing or Sampling: Is EPA testing for dioxins?

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Last updated on September 22, 2025
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