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The chemical that caused the Garden Grove evacuations is stored all over California
LA County launches program for faster Altadena fire recovery By Joe Taglieri
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, CalMatters
joet@civicnewsgroup.com
This story was originally published by CalMatters.
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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.”
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
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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
new program launched Thursday to help Altadena businesses and commercial property owners rebuild faster after the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County officials said. The Altadena Commercial Concierge Program will provide faster completion of the permitting process, individualized technical assistance and connections to recovery resources, according to the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. The county program pairs businesses and commercial property owners with dedicated representatives to help navigate the permitting process and coordinate with Public Works, Regional Planning and other departments. Officials said the program’s goal is to reduce the time consumed during permitting by 25%. “Participants will be able to access specialized training and technical assistance and capital and offers an opportunity for local groups and partners to highlight newly available resources to the community,” according to a DEO statement. The county also will pair program enrollees with business consultants who will conduct individual assessments and develop customized recovery plans. Consultants will also help businesses connect with financing, technical assistance and training through a new Altadena Commercial Recovery Partnership, officials said. “Altadena’s small businesses are anchors in this community, employing neighbors and offering commercial corridors that meet
local needs,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose 5th District includes Altadena, said in a statement. “This program will help ensure business owners do not have to navigate recovery alone. By putting a dedicated team directly in their corner that will stay with them until their rebuilding journey ends, we are giving Altadena businesses the fighting chance they deserve to recover.” Kelly LoBianco, director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said the main intention of the program is “so impacted businesses and commercial property owners have a clearer, faster path to recovery. This initiative reflects the County’s commitment to making government work better for our communities by reducing barriers, improving coordination, and helping local businesses rebuild and recover,” she said in a statement. The Public Works and Regional Planning chiefs also welcomed the Concierge Program’s launch. “The Department of Regional Planning is pleased to participate in the Altadena Commercial Concierge Program in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity, the County Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works,” Dennis Slavin, chief deputy director for the Regional Planning Department, said in a statement. “Small businesses in Altadena and surrounding communities were greatly impacted by the Eaton Fire, and bringing those businesses back remains a significant challenge.” A statement from Mark
See Altadena fire recovery Page 24