Nearly 2 million Californians live within three miles of facilities storing methyl methacrylate, such as the GKN plant in Garden Grove, Orange County. This raises significant public safety concerns.
- The first federal hazardous materials transport law was passed in 1866 after deadly explosions in San Francisco and Panama. - The EPA classifies hazardous materials by ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.
- The NFPA 704 fire diamond system was created after firefighters died in a chemical fire in Charlotte, North Carolina. - The GKN plant in Garden Grove is one of many facilities storing methyl methacrylate, a hazardous chemical.
The article highlights the historical context of hazardous material regulation and the ongoing risks to nearby communities.