By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement agreement with Gateway Energy Storage, LLC to oversee the cleanup of a lithium-ion battery fire that broke out at the company’s energy storage facility in Otay Mesa.
The fire, which ignited on May 15, 2024, involved nearly 14,800 nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium-ion batteries and continued to flare up periodically until May 28. In the aftermath, the EPA has been working closely with local fire officials and San Diego County authorities to ensure safe remediation of the site.
“Calling a technology ‘green energy’ does not mean there are no environmental impacts,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Josh F.W. Cook. “I am alarmed by the incidents and impacts of utility-grade battery fires on first responders… This settlement action is a step in the right direction, but the broader battery storage fire issue requires additional attention and EPA enforcement.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Gateway Energy Storage must implement a series of safety and monitoring measures, including:
- Conducting environmental monitoring during battery handling operations
- Safely removing, packaging, and disposing of damaged battery packs
- Submitting detailed work plans and progress reports to the EPA
The fire-damaged batteries continue to pose risks of reignition, explosion, and the release of toxic chemicals. As a designated responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Gateway Energy Storage is required to bear the full cost of cleanup.
The facility, operated by Gateway Energy Storage, LLC—a Delaware-incorporated limited liability company—remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the root cause of the fire. EPA officials say oversight will continue until the site is no longer considered a threat to public health or the environment.
