Chromite Ore from the Transvaal Region of South Africa; Toxic Chemical Release Reporting; Community Right-to-Know

EPA is granting a petition to delete both chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region of South Africa and the unreacted ore component of the chromite ore processing residue (COPR) from the reporting requirements under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA). These chemicals are currently reported as part of the category "chromium compounds" on the list of toxic chemicals in section 313(c) of EPCRA. The action is based on EPA's conclusion that this particular chromite ore from the Transvaal Region and the unreacted ore component of the COPR (in the case of this delisting decision, COPR includes the solid waste remaining after the aqueous extraction of oxidized chromite ore that has been combined with soda ash and kiln roasted at approximately 2,000 deg.F) meet the deletion criterion under EPCRA section 313(d)(3). By promulgating this rule, EPA is relieving facilities of their obligation to report releases of and other waste management information on chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region of South Africa and the unreacted ore component of the COPR that occurred during the 2000 reporting year, and for activities in the future.