FBI agents were at GKN Aerospace Wednesday morning serving a search warrant about two weeks after a chemical tank crisis at the facility in Garden Grove led to mass evacuations and the threat of an explosion and toxic spill.
Video from NewsChopper4 showed agents at the location at the center of the crisis that began with reports of overheating and pressure building in one of the toxic chemical tanks. The FBI said it was carrying out a federal court-authorized search warrant.
The warrant includes a general list of items to be seized, such as samples of substances inside any container with MMA or any hazardous material, documents involving the storage or handling of the toxic chemical used in plastics, records on risk analyses of GKN’s equipment, complaints by employees about the hazardous materials and other items.
Thousands of residents in Garden Grove and Stanton were evacuated for days during the Memorial Day weekend as authorities worked to neutralize the toxic chemical inside the tank. Firefighters said it appeared the tank would either explode or spill its toxic contents after a problem with the valve used to release pressure.
A blast radius map was released to the public that showed which areas would be most affected if the situation led to an explosion and toxic plume.
Ultimately, a crack in the damaged tank relieved pressure, allowing authorities to give the all-clear for residents to return home days later.
Crews were planning to remove the remaining methyl methacrylate, or MMA, from two tanks next to the one that was damaged at GKN Aerospace. The operation was stalled due to a delay in delivery of sealed trucks needed for the job.
When the operation occurs, workers will pump the MMA out of two storage tanks and into the sealed trucks, which will take the chemicals away for disposal.
On Tuesday night, a GKN Aerospace executive spoke at a community meeting about the crisis and what happens next.
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