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Press release

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The company that owns a chemical tank in Garden Grove that nearly exploded in May and forced the evacuation of over 50,000 people is looking to reopen next month and have agreed to pay out $100 million to impacted residents and businesses. 

According to a news release sent out on Monday by GKN Aerospace, which owns the plant, a claims program will be officially launched some time this fall, reimbursing people eligible for damage claims.

This includes meals, hotel stays, transportation and loss of wages. 

“This facility has been part of Garden Grove for 60 years, and the claims program we’re announcing today reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to our neighbors,” said GKN Senior Vice President Steve Carlin in the Monday news release. 

“From the outset, GKN has pledged to make things right, and we appreciate the community’s patience as we worked closely with local officials to finalize the best path forward.”  

To read their full statement, click here. 

In that same release, they announced plans to reopen their Garden Grove facility by Sept. 28, noting they had met the required air safety requirements and that it remains “critical to the U.S. aerospace industry.” 

“GKN permanently decommissioned the tank involved in the incident and made substantial investments in safety enhancements at the facility,” reads the release. 

Garden Grove officials said the Sept. 28 date is “GKN’s stated target and is not a timeline established by the City,” in a statement Monday afternoon, noting they were grateful the company was taking steps to help impacted residents. 

In the Monday news release from the City of Garden Grove, Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein noted how the city council has been working to make the company take accountability for the incident, calling on GKN to address the effect the near explosion had on the community. 

“From the beginning, the City Council has called on GKN to take accountability for the financial impacts of this incident,” Klopfenstein said. 

“We welcome this progress and will continue to expect GKN to address the broader effects on our community.”

Garden Grove City Councilmember Joe DoVinh said he was pleased to see the claims program, adding that Carlin, representing GKN Aerospace, will be at the city’s council meeting tomorrow, scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s not an end-all, be-all, but it’s definitely a lot more than the $3 million or $4 million, which I called an insult and slap in the face,” DoVinh said in a Monday afternoon phone call. “$100 million is a lot more than $4 million, and it’s now a care package that I truly appreciate. Our staff, our city council, mayor, myself, fought really hard for this, and I think it’s a measure of success.”

DoVinh said he’s not against GKN Aerospace resuming operations in town as long as they replace their tanks and fully comply with all regulations and safety measures.

Anaheim City Spokesman Mike Lyster said the city is awaiting details on the process and hopes the compensation will help thousands of Anaheim residents and hundreds of businesses impacted by the evacuations.

“We welcome this for west Anaheim’s more than 6,000 evacuated residents and 150 impacted small businesses, with many seeing little to no recourse up to now beyond some initial grants and loans. This is the right thing to do and puts responsibility of compensation at the source of the incident,” he wrote in a Monday text message.

GKN will not face any criminal charges according to OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who took credit for the new payment plan for residents, with most of the details still unknown. 

“After several months of investigation, which included onsite inspections, record review and expert consultation, OCDA has concluded its criminal investigation and is now proceeding with negotiations toward a civil disposition with GKN,” reads a Monday press release from Spitzer’s office.

To read the full release, click here.

Spitzer’s release also said that other financial penalties could be levied against the company, but nothing criminal, noting that an “enhanced comprehensive safety plan along with independent monitoring requirements” would also be set up in the near future. 

“The District Attorney’s Office is in negotiations with GKN regarding additional reimbursement for expenses incurred by first responders and emergency services agencies who responded to the hazmat situation as well as civil penalties related to the May 2026 emergency,” reads the release. 

It remains unclear what the final details will be on how the program will be administered, with GKN’s release noting it’s “in development.” 

“Over the coming weeks, GKN will provide more details on the program,” reads the release. “Payments for eligible claims will follow swiftly thereafter. 

The company also pledged to hold multiple town halls informing residents of the program. 

“GKN will be engaging with local stakeholders to help ensure the program is accessible and efficient, including by making instructions available in multiple languages,” reads the release. 

“GKN will host a series of community events to provide information about the claims program and assist with the application process.” 

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.

Sara Leon is a Voice of OC intern from Cal State Fullerton. You can reach her at sleon7903@gmail.com.