LONGVIEW, Wash. (From news reports) -- Washington Attorney General Nick Brown's office has been granted authority to help investigate whether any criminal activity contributed to last month's deadly disaster at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview.

The Attorney General's Office confirmed on Wednesday that it has been given concurrent jurisdiction by the Cowlitz County prosecutor to investigate potential criminal activity tied to the incident and to initiate any prosecution that could arise from the investigation.

The office said it is not raising allegations or presuming wrongdoing at this time, describing its work as the beginning of a thorough examination of potential violations of state law connected to the tragedy.

"Our office has unique expertise and resources, and we are ready to answer the call from local law enforcement when they need our assistance in complex cases," Brown said. "Washington deserves a thorough investigation to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again."

The disaster occurred May 26 at the Nippon Dynawave facility when a tank containing a chemical used in paper production ruptured, releasing more than 500,000 gallons of highly caustic liquid. The incident killed 11 workers and injured many more, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent history

The Attorney General's Office said it has experience in cases involving industrial and environmental incidents and the specialized resources needed for a complex legal investigation.

Under state law, the Attorney General's Office may only undertake criminal prosecutions at the request of a county prosecuting attorney or the governor. The office said it contacted the Cowlitz County prosecutor's office and offered to assist with the investigation. Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Jurvakainen accepted the offer and granted the Attorney General's Office concurrent authority.