Federal authorities descended on a Garden Grove aerospace facility Wednesday morning, executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into a chemical emergency that displaced tens of thousands of Orange County residents last month.
FBI agents arrived at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems with authorization to seize documents, records, and physical samples related to the storage and handling of methyl methacrylate, the highly flammable chemical that overheated in late May. Multiple federal vehicles and several agents were observed outside the facility Wednesday morning as the search commenced.
The warrant, signed by a federal judge last week, specifically authorizes the seizure of materials related to the "storage, use, or disposal" of methyl methacrylate. Federal investigators are also seeking samples from any container suspected of holding the chemical, as well as records concerning cooling equipment used to regulate the substance's temperature.
The search represents a significant escalation in scrutiny of the May 21 incident, which began when a cooling system valve failed on a tank containing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of the hazardous chemical. The malfunction triggered evacuations beginning May 22 that ultimately affected approximately 50,000 residents as authorities feared a catastrophic explosion.
GKN Aerospace manufactures cockpit windows, canopies, and windshields at the Garden Grove facility, which employs more than 500 people. The company uses methyl methacrylate in the production of plastics and coatings, including materials similar to Plexiglas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to the chemical can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological issues, and irritation to the skin, eyes, and throat.
A company spokesperson confirmed the federal action Wednesday morning, stating that GKN is "cooperating with authorities at our Garden Grove facility and will continue to do so."
The tank overheated when its cooling system, designed to maintain the chemical at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, failed. Emergency crews sprayed water on the tank until the interior temperature stabilized at 92 degrees Fahrenheit, down from a peak of 100 degrees. A fortuitous crack that formed in the tank relieved pressure and helped prevent the feared explosion, allowing most evacuees to return home over Memorial Day weekend.
The neutralized chemical remains in the holding tank, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency, which is leading cleanup and waste removal efforts. The agency had planned to pump the material into sealed trucks for transport and disposal at the end of last week, but announced Friday that the removal did not occur "due to unavailable resources." Officials have promised to provide advance notice to the community once a new removal date is confirmed.
At a community meeting Tuesday evening, GKN Aerospace's Steve Carlin offered an apology to affected residents. "On behalf of GKN and the Garden Grove plant I want to say that I'm sorry that this event and this incident occurred," Carlin stated. "I understand and I realized sitting here tonight what a disruptive event it was and how unsettling it is to the greater community. Particularly unsettling to us at GKN because of the long history that we have with Garden Grove and how connected we are to this community."
Garden Grove city leaders and residents have urged the company to relocate the methyl methacrylate tanks away from residential and commercial areas. However, Carlin indicated it is too early in the investigation to make such decisions, while pledging transparency with the community about the ongoing inquiry.
The FBI investigation is not the only legal scrutiny facing GKN Aerospace. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is conducting a separate criminal investigation into the facility. District Attorney spokesperson Kimberly Edds confirmed that prosecutors have sent a preservation letter to GKN directing the company not to modify or destroy any evidence, which the company's outside counsel has acknowledged receiving.
Approximately a dozen individuals and businesses affected by the evacuation have filed federal lawsuits against the company. The plaintiffs include Big Rob's Pizzeria, Fruit Caboose Concessions, Dinh Tran, and Drippys Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches. Some evacuees reported experiencing strong odors, respiratory irritation, headaches, and dizziness during the emergency.
Attorney Rickard McCune, representing Big Rob's Pizzeria and Fruit Caboose Concessions, stated that his clients are pleased with the federal government's involvement. The lawsuits claim that GKN Aerospace and parent company Melrose Industries were negligent and endangered surrounding communities.
Another attorney, Alex Wheeler, who represents Dinh Tran and Drippys Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches, expressed relief at the FBI's commitment of resources to investigate potential criminal conduct. "As more information becomes public, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the risk to our community posed by GKN's operation of the Garden Grove facility may require a long term and lasting solution," Wheeler said.
Orange County health officials have assured residents that no contamination or fumes were released during the incident. The agency continues to monitor air quality and is checking sewer and storm drains, with plans to maintain surveillance for several months.
The Garden Grove incident was the first of two major hazardous chemical emergencies on the West Coast within a single week. Five days after the GKN Aerospace situation began, a large tank containing a corrosive chemical at a Longview, Washington paper mill ruptured and imploded, resulting in eleven fatalities.
