Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congressman Derek Tran Demand Answers from GKN Aerospace on Garden Grove Chemical Emergency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45) demanded answers from GKN Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Peter Dilnot about the chemical emergency at the company’s facility in Garden Grove, California, that forced nearly 50,000 residents to evacuate their homes over Memorial Day weekend.
 

“GKN Aerospace exposed Orange County and Garden Grove to the risk of a catastrophic chemical explosion,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “Thousands of families have been forced to evacuate and people are living in fear. We need answers on what happened, why it happened, how they will prevent this from happening again.”

“Over 50,000 residents were displaced, and 5,000 small businesses were forced to close because of the hazmat incident at GKN Aerospace. Families and small business owners are rightfully angry and frightened,” said Congressman Derek Tran. “I am grateful to our heroic first responders for keeping our community safe and solving the immediate crisis, but we must now turn to the work of recovery and accountability to ensure that this can never happen again. GKN leadership must answer directly to the community for the chaos and disruption this crisis has caused.”
 

In the letter to GKN Aerospace, Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Representative Derek Tran wrote, “Over the Memorial Day weekend, more than 50,000 Californians were forced to evacuate their homes due to the risk of a chemical explosion at a facility owned by GKN Aerospace. As a result of your company’s operations, the residents of Garden Grove and surrounding communities have faced unacceptable risks to their safety and significant disruption to their lives. We demand answers around the circumstances that led to this catastrophic threat and the steps GKN Aerospace will take to prevent future risks to the community and the environment.”

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