When a chemical tank at the GKN Aerospace
facility in Garden Grove became unstable over
Memorial Day weekend, South Coast AQMD
quickly mobilized to provide specialized air quality
monitoring and technical support as part of the multiagency
emergency response.
Working alongside the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA),
Orange County Health Care Agency/HAZMAT, and
the National Weather Service’s San Diego office, South
Coast AQMD staff provided meteorological analysis,
atmospheric modeling, and air monitoring support to help
emergency responders evaluate potential risks and make
informed decisions.
Using advanced
atmospheric
modeling tools, staff
evaluated potential
chemical exposure
scenarios in the
event of a leak or
explosion. Additional
modeling was
conducted to estimate
concentrations of
methyl methacrylate
(MMA), the chemical
contained in the affected
tank, during the response.
These modeling results
helped identify areas
of potential impact and
informed the placement of
air monitoring equipment
throughout the response.
South Coast AQMD
also deployed a mobile
air monitoring vehicle
and other specialized
monitoring equipment
to collect real-time air
quality data around
the facility and in
nearby neighborhoods.
Combined with continuous meteorological analysis, the
monitoring data provided emergency managers with critical
information to help evaluate the evacuation zone perimeter
and determine appropriate locations for community air
monitoring stations, as conditions evolved.
Following stabilization of the tank, South Coast AQMD
continued providing technical support and oversight for
facility contractors conducting air monitoring around the
facility during the cleanup phase. South Coast AQMD
continues to work with state and local partners to ensure air
monitoring is ongoing during the removal of any materials
from the MMA containing tanks on site.
The response highlighted South Coast AQMD’s ability to
rapidly deploy specialized air monitoring resources and
technical expertise during hazardous materials incidents.
It also underscored the value of the agency’s ongoing
investment in air quality modeling, monitoring capabilities,
and emergency preparedness, enabling the agency to
quickly provide reliable, science-based information that
supports emergency response operations and helps protect
public health.