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Federal search warrant served at GKN in Garden Grove where failed chemical tank prompted evacuations

June 10, 2026

Federal law enforcement agents were conducting a search warrant on Wednesday morning at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove where a failed chemical tank over the Memorial Day weekend forced led to mass evacuations over fears of a toxic spill or massive explosion.

The FBI and EPA were carrying out the search, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed. Authorities declined to comment further.

The unsealed search warrant specified that the agents would be looking for a variety of documents, including records related to the treatment, storage, disposal and transportation of methyl methacrylate, a flammable, toxic and highly volatile chemical used for plastic manufacturing that was contained in the failed tank at the GKN facility.

The warrant also lists records related to equipment inspections and maintenance at GKN and samples of substances within any tanks or containers suspected of having previously held methyl methacrylate or other hazardous substances, among a lengthly list of other records generally related to the chemical, its storage and the related safety systems.

The threat of an overheating chemical storage container forced the evacuation of roughly 50,000 residents of Garden Grove and neighboring cities three weeks ago.

Many of those residents have since called for the shutdown or relocation of the 15-acre GKN Aerospace facility and for direct reimbursements to impacted residents and businesses. Dozens of lawsuits have already been filed in both federal and state court against GKN.

GKN Senior Vice President Steve Carlin on Tuesday appeared at a Garden Grove City Council meeting to apologize to residents on behalf of GKN and the local plant, telling them “I understand what a disruptive event it was, and how unsettling it is to the greater community.”

The company agreed to hold a future town hall “or some sort of public event.” Last week, the company donated $3 million to the OC Community Resilience Fund, a partnership of Orange County United Way and 211-OC, which will provide qualifying residents with up to $500 to help recoup evacuation costs.

The United Kingdom-based company, a worldwide leading manufacturer of cockpit windows, jet canopies and aviation windows for civil and military aircraft has operated in Garden Grove for decades. The company previously paid a nearly $1 million fine to settle numerous environmental violations.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer previously announced that his office is investigating the failure of the chemical tank. There were also calls in the midst of the evacuations for a federal investigation.

Orange County Register

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Federal search warrant served at GKN in Garden Grove where failed chemical tank prompted evacuations

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