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The chemical that caused the Garden Grove evacuations is stored all over California
SB County housing projects get $8.7M for expansion, operations By Joe Taglieri
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, CalMatters
joet@civicnewsgroup.com
T
he San Bernardino County Supervisors approved roughly $8.7 million Tuesday to expand supportive housing that prevents homelessness. A project to expand the Pacific Village housing complex in San Bernardino received $3 million, bringing the project’s budget to approximately $17.8 million, according to the county. The funding approved Tuesday is a grant from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to support outdoor gathering areas, covered pedestrian pathways, campuswide “wayfinding systems” and therapeutic landscaping.
This story was originally published by CalMatters.
F
ire officials near a Garden Grove aerospace facility stared down two potentially bad outcomes over Memorial Day weekend: Either an industrial tank could explode, or it could unleash large amounts of a toxic chemical into the air. For many, it was the first time they’d ever heard of the chemical — methyl methacrylate — and its potential consequences: respiratory issues, nosebleeds, nausea and skin reactions that could lead to hospitalization. The Orange County Fire Authority narrowly avoided a disaster when the tank cracked just enough to relieve the pressure. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and multiple agencies are now investigating what happened. But the danger remains for some. A CalMatters review of federal data from the Environmental Protection Agency found 14 facilities stored methyl methacrylate in California in 2024. That year, four of them stored amounts that are similar to or greater than the amount that nearly caused a disaster near the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove. Community advocates say the Garden Grove emergency illustrates how gaps in regulation and weak oversight allow dangerous chemicals to threaten the lives and property of thousands of people. “This could happen anywhere,” said Ivana Castellanos, toxics program manager with Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles. “There’s so many facilities that have toxic chemicals … and it’s very easy for (something) to go wrong.”
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Officials said the design aims “to strengthen resident wellness, service integration and community connection.” Approximately $5.7 million in funds from the state’s Homekey program goes to a housing development at 450 N. G St. in San Bernardino. The funding will pay for property management, security, maintenance and other operating costs “that help provide housing stability for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” according to a county statement. The county established
See SB housing Page 24
GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove. | Photo courtesy of Jeremy Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
No rules, no plans, no warning At GKN Aerospace, methyl methacrylate was stored in a tank as a liquid. Exposed to heat, that liquid can trigger a chemical reaction called “thermal runaway” in which the substance heats until it becomes highly flammable and even explosive. Federal data from 2024 shows the company stored from 100,000 to just under 1 million pounds of the toxic chemical. Several of the other companies that also told federal regulators they stored the chemical have facilities near where people live. Three facilities stored far greater amounts of 1 million to 10 million pounds each: Rohm & Haas Chemicals in Hayward, Engineered Polymer Solutions in Commerce and Plaskolite West in Compton. A fifth
facility, Arkema Coating Resins Plant in Torrance, stored similar amounts to GKN Aerospace. Methyl methacrylate is not a regulated substance under either the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program or California’s parallel system, known as CalARP. In some places, process safety rules that protect workers may cause agencies to scrutinize the chemical. Facilities may still have to have fire or other emergency plans. But facilities holding chemicals that fall outside federal and state accident prevention programs may not have to participate in community emergency planning or drills. Plaskolite West in
Compton stores up to 20,000 pounds of methyl methacrylate in tanks and under 2 million pounds in rail cars, said Roger Hamilton, the company’s vice president of operations. While it’s stored, the chemical is treated with an inhibiting agent to prevent a runaway reaction, he said. Hamilton said the company reviews its internal emergency plans annually, and the Orange County incident has prompted another review. The plans include how to respond to spills, train operators and monitor the chemicals. The company has received five violation notices from the South Coast Air Quality Management District since 2003. Regulators cited the company for failing to follow
See Garden Grove evacuations Page 03
Program geared to kids offers visits to sacred sites throughout region By City News Service
W
orking alongside Coachella Valley tribes, a Banningbased nonprofit is bolstering efforts to raise awareness among youths about the historical importance and need for preservation of ancestral lands throughout the region. The Native American Land Conservancy’s “Native Youth Ambassador Program” focuses on turning adolescents into “ambassadors” with expertise on landscapes linked to area tribes for centuries. “This program will provide young people around California with opportuniSee Sacred sites Page 24
ties to explore ancient land and gain knowledge on its cultural significance, as well as on the necessary steps to support biodiversity, climate resilience and protect cultural connections,” NALC Executive Director Robert Przeklasa said. Among those active in the ambassador program are members of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe in Thermal. In April, tribal volunteers, along with NALC staff, traveled with youth ambassadors to Bonanza Spring at the Mojave Trails National Monument in the southeastern Mojave Desert,