Starting from 29 June 2026, Orange County (OC) officials will begin to remove neutralised methyl methacrylate from two storage tanks at the GKN Aerospace site in Garden Grove, California, US, where concerns from staff about potential tank explosions meant 50,000 residents from six nearby cities were evacuated on 21 May 2026.
Final evacuation orders were lifted on 26 May when investigations discovered a crack on the overheating tank had relieved the pressure inside and diminished the risk of an explosion. Emergency services then pumped water between the tank’s external and internal walls to cool it down.
Cleanup was originally scheduled for 4 June, but was delayed due to ‘unavailable resources’, according to the OC Health Care Agency. GKN committed $3 million (€2,630,000) to assist those evacuated, with a further $1 million (€876,700) also given to support OC community initiatives.
The OC Health Care Agency comments: ‘The drainage operation represents one phase of the cleanup and disposal process. Air monitoring will continue throughout cleanup operations.’
In a GKN Aerospace press release, GKN senior vice president Steve Carlin, who oversees the Garden Grove site’s programmes, says: ‘By working with a trusted local organisation with the infrastructure to mobilise resources quickly, we hope to help expedite assistance to those most in need. We will continue to engage with community leaders, work with the authorities and help the community move forward.’
