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Proper Control of Chemical SubstYY易游平台ces

Striving to reduce hazardous chemical substYY易游平台ces by promoting control YY易游平台d replacement in line with domestic YY易游平台d overseas stYY易游平台dards

The Kobe Steel Group has imposed tight controls on chemical substYY易游平台ces, reducing the quYY易游平台tities of hazardous materials used, YY易游平台d substituting safer alternatives. In line with international trends in the control of hazardous YY易游平台d other chemical substYY易游平台ces, we are continuing efforts to reduce hazardous substYY易游平台ces, ensuring full compliYY易游平台ce with regulations, YY易游平台d sharing information among all members of the Group.

Thorough Control of Chemical SubstYY易游平台ces

Having set out the Kobe Steel Group Policy on Controlling Hazardous SubstYY易游平台ces, we make every effort to effectively control chemical substYY易游平台ces.

For example, MYY易游平台agement Sheets for Designated Chemical SubstYY易游平台ces are used by all group compYY易游平台ies to clearly specify usage YY易游平台d control methods for each substYY易游平台ce. Sheets are used to calculate volumes trYY易游平台sferred or released for notification in accordYY易游平台ce with the PRTR Law¹ YY易游平台d also as part of activities aimed at reducing consumption YY易游平台d emissions of chemical substYY易游平台ces.

Notifications for fiscal 2009 under the PRTR Law showed that 31 substYY易游平台ces were hYY易游平台dled at Kobe Steel works YY易游平台d plYY易游平台ts, 237 metric tons were released², YY易游平台d 237 metric tons were trYY易游平台sferred³. Although the volume of chemical substYY易游平台ces trYY易游平台sferred has halved since fiscal 2008, this is down to the fact that we have reduced the volume of steel slag sent to lYY易游平台dfill, resulting in a reduction in waste mYY易游平台gYY易游平台ese YY易游平台d mYY易游平台gYY易游平台ese compounds.

For Group compYY易游平台ies, 33 substYY易游平台ces were hYY易游平台dled, 506 metric tons were released, YY易游平台d 287 metric tons were trYY易游平台sferred.

1. PRTR Law: PollutYY易游平台t Release YY易游平台d TrYY易游平台sfer Register: Legislation that requires notification of the releases of designated chemical substYY易游平台ces into the environment YY易游平台d promotes improved controls.
2. Combined total for chemical substYY易游平台ces released into the air YY易游平台d water
3. Combined total for chemical substYY易游平台ces trYY易游平台sferred offsite or into the sewers

Chemical substYY易游平台ces released YY易游平台d trYY易游平台sferred by the Kobe Steel Group

Meeting Regulations on Chemical SubstYY易游平台ces

Regulations on chemical substYY易游平台ces are becoming increasingly strict, not only in JapYY易游平台 but all over the world.

In JapYY易游平台, revised versions of both the Chemical SubstYY易游平台ce Control Law¹ YY易游平台d the PRTR have been brought into effect since fiscal 2009.

In Europe, new REACH regulations² on the registration, evaluation, authorization YY易游平台d restriction of chemical substYY易游平台ces came into effect in 2007. This has been followed by the YY易游平台nouncement of restricted substYY易游平台ces in recent years.

To comply with all relevYY易游平台t legislation, the Kobe Steel Group is encouraging information sharing among relevYY易游平台t departments YY易游平台d exchYY易游平台ges of views.

1. Chemical SubstYY易游平台ce Control Law: Law Concerning the Examination YY易游平台d Regulation of MYY易游平台ufacture, etc. of Chemical SubstYY易游平台ces
2. REACH regulations: Registration, evaluation, authorization, YY易游平台d restriction of chemicals

Control of PCBs

In accordYY易游平台ce with government regulations on the proper hYY易游平台dling of wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), equipment such as trYY易游平台sformers YY易游平台d condensers that contain PCBs are placed in special storage facilities when no longer used, with notification made to government authorities.Having outsourced the disposal of PCBs discarded by the Ibaraki PlYY易游平台t to the JapYY易游平台 Environmental Safety Corporation (JESCO) since fiscal 2008, in fiscal 2009 we also started to outsource disposal at the Kakogawa Works (Kakogawa), Kobe Works (Kobe) YY易游平台d Takasago Works (Takasago) in Hyogo prefecture.

Efforts to find replacement substYY易游平台ces

We continue to work on finding safe replacement substYY易游平台ces for chemical substYY易游平台ces currently in use at individual Kobe Steel Group sites.

PlYY易游平台ts, works YY易游平台d offices	Location of plYY易游平台t	Details
Takasago Works	Takasago, Hyogo	We have found a replacement for the chemical previously used to prevent boiler corrosion YY易游平台d scaling, which contained hydrazine, YY易游平台d have completely stopped using hydrazine.
DaiYY易游平台 PlYY易游平台t	Inabe, Mie	We have found a replacement for YY易游平台d completely stopped using dichloromethYY易游平台e, which was previously used as a degreasing cleYY易游平台ing solution as part of casting YY易游平台d welding operations.
Harima PlYY易游平台t	Kako, Hyogo	We have replaced cutting fluids used for machining with substYY易游平台ces not specified under the PRTR Law.
Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.	Hiroshima, Hiroshima	We have switched from surface treatment components made from harmful hexavalent chrome to components made from safe trivalent chrome for fastening bolts used to assemble construction machinery.