A Memorial Day incident at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, where a tank of methyl methacrylate risked exploding, has revealed that nearly 2 million Californians live near similar chemical tanks. The plant avoided disaster, but evacuees are suing.
- The cooling system failure caused the tank to overheat; a crack relieved pressure and prevented an explosion. - Around 30 evacuees have filed lawsuits seeking compensation for expenses and emotional distress.
- GKN has a history of violations, including fines for missing permits and emission records. - The U.S.
EPA reports 1.6 million Southern Californians live within three miles of such tanks, with 117,000 within one mile. The incident underscores the widespread risk of chemical storage across the state, with GKN producing 131,779 pounds of waste in 2024.