FBI and EPA serve search warrant at GKN Aerospace plant

Federal authorities executed a search warrant at a GKN Aerospace chemical plant in Garden Grove, California, on Wednesday, June 10, as part of an investigation into a hazardous incident last month that forced the evacuation of over 50,000 residents. FBI agents, alongside personnel from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, arrived at the facility on Western Avenue to seize documents, records, and samples related to the storage and handling of methyl methacrylate (MMA), a highly flammable and toxic chemical used in manufacturing plastics such as plexiglass for aircraft windows.

The warrant, authorized by a federal judge last week, specifically targets records concerning the chemical's storage, use, disposal, and the operation of cooling equipment. It also permits the seizure of samples from any containers suspected to contain MMA or other hazardous substances. A spokesperson for GKN Aerospace stated the company is cooperating with authorities. Employees were reportedly sent home during the search.

This federal action follows a major chemical emergency at the plant over the Memorial Day weekend in May. A storage tank containing between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of MMA overheated...