Federal investigators executed a search warrant Wednesday at an aerospace manufacturing plant in Southern California where a dangerous chemical incident last month led to the evacuation of 50,000 area residents.
A federal judge authorized the warrant last week, allowing agents to collect documents and materials concerning how methyl methacrylate was “stored, used, or disposed of” at the facility, according to court papers.
The search authorization also covered “samples of the substance within any tank, tote, drum, vat, vessel, or container suspected of containing or having previously contained methyl methacrylate and/or any hazardous substance,” the warrant stated.
Additionally, investigators were directed to gather documentation about “any cooling equipment or other equipment used to control or regulate the temperature of methyl methacrylate.”
The FBI verified that agents conducted the search at the facility operated by GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, located in Garden Grove in Orange County.
The company produces aircraft cockpit windows, canopies and windshields. During the incident, a storage tank holding between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate experienced overheating. This highly combustible liquid serves as a raw material for manufacturing plastics and protective coatings, including products like Plexiglas and dental prosthetics.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, contact with this chemical can result in severe breathing difficulties, nervous system complications, and irritation affecting skin, eyes and throat.
When asked about the federal probe, a company representative responded to the AP Wednesday morning: “We are cooperating with authorities at our Garden Grove facility and will continue to do so.”
During a community gathering Tuesday night, GKN’s Steve Carlin addressed local residents. He expressed gratitude toward emergency responders and community officials who handled the situation at the facility, which provides employment for over 500 workers, while offering an apology to neighbors.
“On behalf of GKN and the Garden Grove plant I want to say that I’m sorry that this event and this incident occurred. 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.”
Carlin indicated the company’s willingness to organize a public forum for community questions. However, he noted Tuesday that investigators are still in early stages of determining what occurred, making it premature to decide what remedial steps the company might implement.
Meanwhile, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has launched its own criminal probe into the aerospace plant, confirmed DA spokesperson Kimberly Edds.
“We have sent a preservation letter to GKN directing them not to modify or destroy any evidence, which the company’s outside counsel confirmed receipt,” Edds stated in an email to The Associated Press.
Approximately twelve individuals and businesses affected by the mass evacuation during the chemical incident have initiated federal court cases against the manufacturer.
Local health authorities have provided assurance that no dangerous materials or vapors escaped into the environment, pledging continued air quality monitoring for several months along with testing of sewage and drainage systems.
