{"id":2801,"date":"2026-05-24T20:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/24\/overheated-chemical-tank-in-southern-california-will-fail-epa-chief-says\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T20:40:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:40:17","slug":"overheated-chemical-tank-in-southern-california-will-fail-epa-chief-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2801","title":{"rendered":"Overheated chemical tank in southern California \u2018will fail\u2019, EPA chief says"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"59aa627c-d65c-4e6b-a95f-0054341b1851\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"aerial view of water sprayed near chemical tank\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/ee8e15a50e6915c6017fba9f14b886e15f5dc8ba\/833_0_4167_3335\/master\/4167.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.15622750179983\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A drone view shows water being sprayed during a chemical incident in Garden Grove, California, on 23 May.<\/span> Photograph: David Swanson\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"59aa627c-d65c-4e6b-a95f-0054341b1851\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A drone view shows water being sprayed during a chemical incident in Garden Grove, California, on 23 May.<\/span> Photograph: David Swanson\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Overheated chemical tank in southern California \u2018will fail\u2019, EPA chief says<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Lee Zeldin says \u2018low-volume release\u2019 of flammable chemicals is most likely amid fears of explosion at Orange county facility near Disneyland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Government officials in Orange county, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/california\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">California<\/a>, have warned that an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/california-state-of-emergency-chemical-disaster\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">overheated chemical tank<\/a> \u201cwill fail\u201d and could result in a chemical explosion in the area, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator said on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re being told that the tank will fail, but there are different scenarios as to what that means,\u201d Lee Zeldin, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/epaleezeldin\/status\/2058580616770449540\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told<\/a> CNN\u2019s State of the Union on Sunday. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman with no prior experience in environmental policy, was chosen by Trump as the head of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/epa\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">EPA<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe most catastrophic scenario\u201d in the chemical crisis at a facility just 5 miles from Disneyland in southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/california\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">California<\/a>, Zeldin said, would be \u201can explosion that results in other tanks to explode. That\u2019s the reason why you see such a big evacuation that\u2019s been done in the surrounding areas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Zeldin noted that officials have said the \u201cmost likely scenario\u201d is one with a \u201clow-volume release\u201d of the chemicals in the tank. Officials have been working to keep the temperature of the chemical tank below 85F by dumping the storage tank with water. On Friday, officials added a neutralizing agent to a nearby tank to limit the risk of explosion.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0bc51305-2e85-41b0-807d-e07c744d6d9f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-4 | 4\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1ljij2n\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/california-state-of-emergency-chemical-disaster\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">California governor declares state of emergency over looming chemical disaster<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">About <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsmv.com\/2026\/05\/24\/chemical-tank-risk-exploding-50000-residents-are-ordered-evacuate\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">50,000<\/a> people in the area have now been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/22\/california-orange-county-chemical-tank\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">evacuated<\/a> from their homes so far given concerns of a possible leak or explosion. Stephanie Klopfenstein, Garden Grove\u2019s mayor, warned residents to take evacuation orders seriously. \u201cThis is a very dangerous situation,\u201d she said on Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported. Agencies in Los Angeles county have said that there is \u201cno current threat to LA County communities\u201d, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LASDHQ\/status\/2058582572876358106?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">in a post to X<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">No significant changes in the situation were seen overnight into Sunday, said Brian Yau, the Orange county fire authority captain, to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2026\/05\/24\/no-contaminants-found-in-air-near-garden-grove-chemical-plant-tank-remains-intact\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Orange County Register.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Officials who have been monitoring the area\u2019s air quality said they detected no pollutants. \u201cWe are happy to report that levels are completely normal in our measurements,\u201d said Jason Low from the South Coast Air Quality Management District in an update <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OCFireAuthority\/status\/2058402280517562812\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted to X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The chemical incident began on Thursday afternoon after a leak was reported at a facility in Garden Grove. The tank, owned by GKN Aerospace, contained 6,000-7,000 gallons of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2016-09\/documents\/methyl-methacrylate.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">methyl methacrylate<\/a>, local authorities said, a highly flammable chemical used to produce plastic and resin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYuzgSCScqC\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">later update<\/a> on Instagram, Klopfenstein said \u201cwe had a somewhat positive briefing\u201d from the Orange county fire authority team on the scene. The good news, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OCFireAuthority\/status\/2058605707478593967\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according to county fire chief TJ McGovern<\/a>, was that late Saturday night, firefighters discovered \u201ca potential crack in the tank\u201d that could help them to \u201cmake educated decisions\u201d on how to resolve the crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">At least two of Garden Grove have now filed a lawsuit against the GKN Aerospace over the chemical leak, the LA Times reported. The suit, issued by the X-Law Group and Presidio Law Firm, noted that residents have dealt with \u201cevacuation orders, shelter-in-place directives, exposure concerns, noxious chemical odors, fear of contamination, interference with the use and enjoyment of their homes and properties, and other damages\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/california\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">California<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/business\/chemical-industry\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Chemical industry<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/west-coast\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">West Coast<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/environment\/epa\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US Environmental Protection Agency<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Overheated%20chemical%20tank%20in%20southern%20California%20%E2%80%98will%20fail%E2%80%99,%20EPA%20chief%20says&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/chemical-tank-california-epa-lee-zeldin?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F24%2Fchemical-tank-california-epa-lee-zeldin&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/chemical-tank-california-epa-lee-zeldin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A drone view shows water being sprayed during a chemical incident in Garden Grove, California, on 23 May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}