Cleanup Activities Continue At Gkn Aerospace, May Cause Temporary Odors; Continuous Air Monitoring Is In Place

The City of Garden Grove is sharing the following information from the County of Orange Health Care Agency regarding ongoing cleanup activities, temporary odors and air monitoring related to the hazardous materials incident at GKN Aerospace.

Cleanup activities related to the GKN Aerospace facility incident in Garden Grove are continuing under the oversight of Unified Command including the OC Health Care Agency, South Coast AQMD and GKN Aerospace.

Between Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5, neutralized methyl methacrylate (MMA) from the storage tanks is scheduled to be pumped out and removed. As part of the planned removal process, the material will be transferred directly from the storage tanks and into sealed trucks for transport and disposal.

Temporary, intermittent odors may occur during this activity. MMA has a distinctive fruity or plastic-like odor. The product has a very low odor threshold, meaning people may notice a scent even when concentrations are well below levels associated with health concerns. Air monitoring continues at the facility perimeter and in the surrounding community to ensure public safety and guide response actions.

The first few days of cleanup included portions of the neutralized MMA being removed, wastewater sampling and testing for proper disposal as well as ongoing air monitoring and tank temperature readings to ensure stability and safety. Daily updates are being posted to www.occupainfo.com.