Potential tank rupture may prevent chemical explosion in California | Today’s news
(Bloomberg) — A potential crack in the bottom of an endangered chemical tank that prompted the evacuation of more than 50,000 people in suburban Los Angeles may prevent a previously feared explosion.
The Orange County Fire Authority had been working since Friday to contain a chemical tank at the GKN Aerospace plant in Garden Grove, about 55 miles southeast of Los Angeles, after it overheated and leaked. Officials on the scene warned over the weekend that the reservoir could explode or leak, and Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the county.
TJ McGovern, interim fire chief, said in a video released Sunday that a team of firefighters visualized the entire tank during an operation Saturday night and discovered a potential crack that was releasing pressure.
“With this new information, it could change our trajectory and our strategy for this event,” he said.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said Sunday that he was told “the most likely scenario is a low-volume release” during an interview with CNN’s State of The Union.
As the crisis continues, schools in the affected area have rescheduled graduations and told parents to prepare for online classes on Tuesday. World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross are on the ground providing relief.
John Torpey, WCK’s director of on-site response, told Bloomberg News that his organization will provide 2,000 meals at emergency shelters by the end of the day. According to the Garden Grove website, four of the five shelters are currently full.
“It’s very peaceful, people are orderly and people are polite to each other,” Torpey said. “I think they realize it’s temporary and everyone’s just trying to make the best of it while this horrible situation continues.”
Two law firms, X-Law Group and Presidio Law Firm, have filed a class-action lawsuit against GKN Aerospace, alleging that the company “breached its duty of care” by “negligently storing MMA in unsafe conditions” and “failing to properly inspect and maintain storage systems and equipment.” The company declined to comment on the lawsuit, pointing to a previous statement. Government investigators have not yet released details about what caused the incident.
GKN is a unit of U.K.-based Melrose Industries Plc, which makes aerospace components such as landing gear, engine structures and electrical systems, it said on its website. The situation at Garden Grove is “ongoing” and GKN is working to “resolve the situation as safely as possible,” the company said in a statement.
The affected tank contains about 7,000 gallons of a toxic chemical used to make plastics, and firefighters are trying to keep its temperature below 29C. The county fire authority said late Saturday that it had “good productive conversations” with environmental experts to prevent further spills or damage to the reservoir.
“Hopefully we can get it done before the tanks fail,” said incident commander Craig Covey. “I don’t promise we’re going to fix it, but I promise you we’re going to do everything we can to give us a third option that doesn’t involve harming this community or harming our environment.”
Harry Allen, Los Angeles team leader for the EPA, said in a video message released Saturday night that the agency did not detect contaminants at 24 monitoring sites it has set up around the reservoir.
Regional Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said the main issue is whether the polymer reaches a high enough temperature to turn into steam. Inhaling that vapor, she said, “does significant damage.”
“It can cause a lot of irritation to your eyes, nose, airways or lungs,” she said in a video Friday.
(Update with information on the chemical tank, the lawsuit and the rescue work)
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