The FBI serves a search warrant at the Garden Grove chemical plant
Federal Bureau of Investigation officers executed a search warrant at the Garden Grove chemical plant on Wednesday; there, a dangerous tank containing toxic chemicals threatened to leak or explode, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents in May.
“We are cooperating with authorities at our Garden Grove facility and will continue to do so,” a spokesperson for GKN Aerospace, which operates the facility, said in an email statement.
FBI agents executed a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into the Garden Grove aviation business, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
GKN Aerospace is a division of Melrose Industries, a UK-based aerospace company that manufactures aircraft parts.
In May, a tank at the manufacturing facility where thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals were stored in pressurized tanks used to produce materials such as plexiglass for fighter jets and commercial aircraft windows was in danger of leaking or exploding.
More than 50,000 residents were temporarily evacuated as authorities investigated the possibility of an explosion for days. They found that a crack in the compromised tank released pressure buildup within the storage unit, eliminating the possibility of an explosion and allowing residents to return to their homes.
The compromised tank was in danger of exploding, affecting adjacent tanks containing the toxic chemical methyl methacrylate, which could cause a large-scale public safety emergency. Still, plans to remove the remaining MMA chemical tanks from the facility have been postponed and a new date has not yet been announced.
Residents affected by the eviction have filed multiple class-action lawsuits against the company, alleging negligence at the manufacturing facility and seeking compensation for loss of use of homes and diminished property value. Federal authorities will now investigate possible violations and factors that may have contributed to the incident.
According to the FBI order, officers will seize items that violate measures to prevent the accidental release of hazardous materials into the air.
The warrant gives FBI officers discretion to search or seize and transport digital devices as part of the investigation.
