July–September 2025 Newsletter
Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire Response
Since the January 2025 battery storage fire in Moss Landing, EPA has been on site. The agency is working to ensure that Vistra safely removes and disposes of batteries impacted by the fire. Community and environmental safety throughout the project is EPA’s priority, as damaged batteries may be unstable and could catch fire again during work.
EPA is overseeing Vistra as the company implements safety steps such as continuously monitoring air around the property, providing a private firefighting company on-site, and maintaining the EPA-approved emergency response plan.
- EPA’s Response to the Moss Landing Vistra Fire
- Respuesta ante el incendio de baterías de Vistra, Moss Landing
Supporting Tribal Communities
In the Pacific Southwest region, EPA is helping Tribes strengthen their capacity to manage environmental programs in Indian Country and ensuring that Tribes have a voice in decisions that affect their land, air and water. The Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC), a working committee of EPA and Tribal personnel, meets quarterly and is critical to this effort. RTOC fosters the development of Tribal environmental protection programs and promotes effective direct implementation of EPA programs in Indian Country.
A recent Tribal accomplishment was the Yurok Tribe being granted “treatment as a state” under the federal Clean Water Act. Under this authority, the Yurok Tribe in Northern California can develop water quality standards for waters within their reservation, similar to states exercising this authority in their water bodies. EPA’s approval of this application advances cooperative federalism by supporting Tribal self-governance to protect water quality.
- EPA’s Work with Tribes in the Pacific Southwest
- Regional Tribal Operations Committee
- EPA Grants Yurok Tribe Authority to Develop Water Quality Standards
Enforcement Update
Cleaning Up Abandoned Uranium Mines
Under a recently concluded Consent Decree, United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) and General Electric Company (GE) will perform and pay for abandoned uranium mine cleanup work on the Navajo Nation, including the excavation of approximately one million cubic yards of contaminated wastes at the Northeast Church Rock Mine Site and its transfer to a repository at the UNC Mill Site, a federally licensed uranium mill and tailings disposal facility. This agreement is the result of two decades of coordination among EPA, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Interior, state and Tribal stakeholders, and UNC and GE.
Meet the New Acting Regional Administrator
Mike Martucci is currently the Acting Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.
October is Children’s Health Month
Public Involvement
EPA encourages public engagement in addressing environmental issues through public notices, events and other opportunities for public participation.
Public Notices, Meetings and Events in EPA's Pacific Southwest