California Chemical Tank Scare Reveals Risk for Nearly 2 Million Residents

A Memorial Day incident at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, where a storage tank containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate risked exploding or spilling, has highlighted a broader threat affecting nearly 2 million Californians. The cooling system failure caused the tank to overheat and crack, but the crack ultimately relieved built-up pressure and prevented a disaster.

Despite the plant avoiding an explosion or dangerous chemical release, thousands of families were displaced, and as of June 2, around 30 evacuees have filed lawsuits against the facility's owner, seeking compensation for transportation, hotel costs, medical evaluations, moving expenses, and emotional distress. Orange County attorney Shawn Steel represents the residents.

The GKN Aerospace facility has a history of regulatory violations. In 2014, the Garden Grove Fire Department cited it for failing to submit a hazardous materials business plan.

In 2018, the Department of Industrial Relations fined the company $2,250 for not maintaining machinery and materials, including fabricating a top cover on CNC machines. In 2021, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) cited GKN for not maintaining emission records for volatile organic compounds and operating new machinery without proper permits, resulting in a $900,000 fine.

According to the U.S. EPA's 2024 Toxics Release Inventory, nearly 2 million Californians live within three miles of a chemical plant containing methyl methacrylate, with 1.6 million in Southern California.

About 117,000 residents live within a mile of such a tank. Across 14 facilities, 333,518 pounds of methyl methacrylate waste were produced in 2024.

GKN Aerospace alone generated 131,779 pounds, double its 2023 output and the highest in 30 years. The waste is typically sent to an Arizona facility for incineration to generate energy.

Tesla's Fremont plant was the second-largest producer, with 115,136 pounds, and about 2,200 residents live within a mile of that facility.