Orange County’s health department is warning Garden Grove residents that they may smell an odor as crews work to clean two storage tanks at the facility that was at the center of a chemical incident last month.
Crews plan to remove neutralized methyl methacrylate (MMA) from two storage tanks at GKN Aerospace from June 29 to July 2, the OC Health Care Agency announced on Friday. Two storage tanks at the site will be the focus of the operation as it’s scheduled to be carried out in phases.
“Temporary, intermittent odors may occur during this activity in the area near the GKN Aerospace facility,” the OC Health Care Agency said in a statement. “MMA has a fruity smell with a very low odor threshold, meaning people may notice a scent even when concentrations are well below levels associated with health concerns.”
About 50,000 residents and business owners in Orange County were forced out of their homes and shops in May after a damaged chemical storage tank was discovered at the aerospace company’s facility. The compromised tank contained thousands of pounds of MMA, which at some point created concerns of a possible explosion.
As part of the operation, specialized containers with temperature control will be used to securely transport the chemical. To minimize exposure for the public, air and odor monitoring will be done, as well as wind condition monitoring.
Residents will be able to view air monitoring data online, as well as updates on the clean-up efforts. For more information, click here.
The emergency fund created to help people affected by the Garden Grove chemical crisis has closed due to an influx in applications. Amber Frias reports for the NBC4 News at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
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