EPA and Vistra Corp. reach agreement for urgent battery cleanup at Moss Landing

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) reached an agreement with Vistra Corp. to remove and dispose of the batteries affected by the fire last January at Moss Landing.

Under the EPA's oversight, Vistra will reduce the risk of another fire by conducting safe and harmless battery removal.

“We’ve arrived at a key milestone in the Moss Landing response: an agreement that allows our EPA experts to ensure the safe removal and proper disposal of these dangerous damaged batteries,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Josh F.W. Cook.

Vistra is required to submit detailed work plans to the EPA while taking comprehensive safety measures to ensure the protection of nearby residents and workers throughout the cleanup.

They will also be required to implement air monitoring and air sampling surrounding the property during removal. A private firefighting company will accompany them on site at all times.

This cleanup follows the battery plant fire that broke out earlier this year in Moss Landing. Vistra was considered a potential responsible party and must take on the costs of the removal and disposal.

Public access to track updates can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/ca/moss-landing-vistra-battery-fire