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$100M fund announced for OC tank hazmat evacuees
Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove in May after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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GKN Aerospace announces $100M compensation fund
The company responsible for the Garden Grove hazmat scare announced a $100 million compensation fund today.
Topline:
The company responsible for the Garden Grove hazmat scare earlier this year, which forced some 50,000 residents to evacuate, announced a $100 million compensation fund on Monday.
Who can apply? The fund from GKN Aerospace will be available to nearby residents and businesses that suffered damages associated with the evacuation.
The backstory: Over Memorial Day weekend, a tank full of toxic and highly flammable chemicals at GKN’s Garden Grove plant threatened to explode, forcing residents in six surrounding cities to evacuate. The emergency subsided after first responders discovered the tank had a crack, which relieved the internal pressure.
What will the fund cover? Applicants can request reimbursement for hotel stays, meals, transportation, loss of wages and loss of use. Details are pending, including how to apply. The program is expected to launch this fall, according to the company’s announcement.
A deal with O.C. prosecutors: The compensation fund is part of a settlement deal under negotiation between the company and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, according to the company’s announcement and a news release from District Attorney Todd Spitzer. The D.A.’s Office, Spitzer added, concluded its criminal investigation into the incident as part of the deal.
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