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  • Ongoing Work: How is the air monitoring and air sampling data being used to protect the community and the environment?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Air monitoring and sampling stations continue to run 24/7 at: The site perimeter The work areas In the community We oversee results from daily air monitoring reports. These reports continue to show no levels of contaminants (pdf) * (particulates, mineral acid gases) above our health…

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  • Moss Landing Air: Are you requiring any air monitoring or sampling during Vistra’s battery removal work?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions EPA is requiring air monitoring and air sampling to protect nearby residents and workers during the battery removal process. Vistra is required to implement air monitoring and air sampling during the demolition and battery handling activities. In the event of a fire, in addition to…

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  • Moss Landing Air: What happened with the spike in particulate matter at air monitoring station 9 the morning of January 18, which resulted in a 1.275 mg/m3 reading for PM10?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions EPA contractors were servicing the equipment at station 9, which resulted in a false reading of a temporary spike in PM10 at that location. Some temporary spikes or gaps in the data are expected, due to various factors such as lapses in telemetry (data transmission)…

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  • Other Testing or Sampling: Did EPA take wipe samples on-site?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions In emergency response situations, EPA focuses on understanding how a person could contact contamination (also called exposure). Inhalation was the main way someone could be exposed to contamination from Moss Landing. To understand the risk of inhalation, monitoring and measuring the air was done. It…

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  • Moss Landing Air: What particulate sizes did EPA monitor during the initial response in January?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions EPA monitored for all of the particulate sizes listed below. If we say we are monitoring for PM2.5, this includes monitoring for particles 2.5 micrometers (μm) and smaller, down to the detection limit of the instrument (in this case 0.1 micrometers). The equipment EPA used…

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  • What changes did EPA finalize to the SPCC Rule in December 2006?

    The revised rule modifies requirements for facilities with smaller oil storage capacity and specific types of oil-filled operating equipment. If a facility has 10,000 gallons or less in aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity and the facility meets the oil discharge history criteria, then an owner/operator of a facility may prepare…

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  • SPCC change in ownership

    If there is a change in ownership at a facility, can the facility operate under the same SPCC Plan without the certification from a professional engineer (PE)? If no change in procedures has been made, it may still be feasible to operate under the existing SPCC Plan. The information in…

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  • Liability of oil retailers at SPCC regulated farm

    If a farm is out of compliance of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations and is checked by EPA and/or has a spill, is the retailer that filled the tank liable? No, EPA considers the oil tank owner responsible for lack of compliance.

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  • EPA's Role: What is battery delinking and what does it do?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Battery “delinking” is when cables connecting different batteries are disconnected. At Moss Landing, batteries were disconnected from one another. They were also disconnected from the rack holding the batteries in the energy storage system. Disconnecting the batteries from one another lowers the risk of fire.

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  • Moss Landing Soil: Did EPA use X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to test soil on and around the site?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Monterey County is overseeing the soil sampling in the community to assess exposure, while EPA remains focused on overseeing the battery removal work at the site. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a screening tool used to detect metals in soil. Screening tools are helpful to assess…

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  • Other Testing or Sampling: Did EPA sample for black carbon?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Black carbon (soot) is part of PM 2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns), which is measured in air monitoring. Since the fire, we have not seen levels of PM2.5 that would be of concern to the community’s health.

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  • Other Testing or Sampling: Is EPA testing for dioxins?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Dioxins are produced in many ways, such as through power plant operations, agricultural operations, etc. Without a long-term study and risk assessment, it is difficult to determine if dioxins in the surrounding environment are a result of the January 2025 battery fire at Moss Landing…

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  • Ongoing Work: What will EPA and Vistra do if there are elevated readings detected by the air monitors?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions Under our oversight, Vistra continues to maintain 24/7 air monitoring and sampling. Sampling and monitoring will happen around the site perimeter and in the community. If monitors show elevated readings, work stops. If changes to work processes are needed, Vistra will make the changes to…

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

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions 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…

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  • Miscellaneous: Is Moss Landing a Superfund site?

    Return to: Frequently Asked Questions No. "Superfund Site" typically refers to a long term, complex cleanup, (i.e. decades). The Moss Landing response is a short-term action referred to as a "Time Critical Removal Action" to address the potential threat from the impacted batteries to human health and the environment.

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