Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin had a more optimistic outlook to share about the current chemical leak at an Orange County, California, aerospace facility on Sunday morning, as the county is in a state of emergency over the crisis.
“The most catastrophic scenario being an explosion that results in other tanks to explode. That’s the reason why you see such a major evacuation that’s been done in the surrounding areas. I’m being told this morning that the most likely scenario is one of a low-volume release, where the local authorities are going to be able to monitor, neutralize, and contain the threat,” Zeldin noted.
Local authorities have established an evacuation zone around the GKN Aerospace facility as a “precautionary measure.” The evacuation zone impacts six cities in the region and tens of thousands of residents, per the outlet. Four out of the five provided evacuation centers were at full capacity as of press time on Sunday afternoon.
An overheated, pressurized tank containing a toxic chemical at the aerospace systems facility has raised concern in the city of Garden Grove, as emergency responders assess the situation while the tank’s temperature continues to rise by about 1 degree Fahrenheit an hour, as disclosed by the Los Angeles Times.
If the possible crack in the tank allows a release of pressure, the “low-volume release” could mean better news for the community bracing for a possible spill or explosion in the worst-case scenario.
Zeldin noted the firefighters in the area are working to bring down the tank’s temperature as much as possible to stabilize it, telling the network that “keeping it under 85 degrees is key.” As of Saturday evening, the temperature of the tank was at 90 degrees, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was 77 degrees on Friday.
The tank contains an estimated 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, which is a toxic chemical used to create plastics. People can be exposed to methyl methacrylate by direct contact with their skin, through inhalation, or through contaminated drinking water.
At an acute level, the chemical is mainly an irritant to the human eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. However, acute exposure can also cause respiratory issues, like chest tightness and wheezing, and neurological issues, like headaches, according to the EPA. The agency lists possible chronic exposure effects that include reduced lung function and possible cardiovascular complications.
“Right now, this is an emergency response. This isn’t yet an environmental response, and the scale of that environmental response will be determined based off of what happens when that tank fails,” Zeldin remarked.
