The Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing on March 31 to accept comments on a draft air quality plan approval for Perdue Grain and Oil Seed LLC for the installation of a grain elevator and a soybean oil extraction facility in Conoy Township, Lancaster County.

The 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. hearing will be at the Bainbridge Fire Hall, located at 34 South 2nd St., Bainbridge.

DEP previously held a public hearing on December 13, 2012, on three applications Perdue originally submitted for the proposed project: an air quality plan approval for the soybean extraction plant, an air quality plan approval for the grain elevator, and a storage tank application for the installation of two above-ground storage tanks.

Since the hearing was held, the air quality plan approvals have been combined into one application, the proposed emission levels have changed, and DEP has prepared a draft plan approval. These changes made an additional public hearing necessary.

“This additional public hearing is being held so the public has an opportunity to present comments  on new information in Perdue’s revised permit application and on the draft approval for the proposed facility,” DEP Southcentral Regional Director Lynn Langer said. “All written and oral comments we receive will be considered with the final review of Perdue’s permit application.”

Air emissions from the facility will be controlled by dust collectors, a mineral oil scrubber, a leak detection and repair program, and prescribed best management practices. Potential emissions from the proposed project are estimated to be:

— 178 tons per year (tpy) total particulate matter

— 45 tpy coarse particulate

— 8 tpy fine particulate

— less than 1 tpy sulfur oxides

— 1 tpy carbon monoxide

— 4 tpy nitrogen oxides

— 208 tpy volatile organic compounds

— 104 tpy n-hexane

— 104 tpy combined hazardous air pollutants

— 4,566 tpy greenhouse gases

Due to potential hexane emissions from the new extraction facility, the overall project requires a Nonattainment New Source Review permit, which includes meeting the Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER), as well as purchasing offsets for any emissions remaining after the imposition of stringent LAER controls.

In determining the allowable rate, DEP used information from other similar facilities, and also considered the feasibility of various potential air pollution control devices. Emission offsets for the proposed facility will come from Perdue purchasing emission reduction credits from other facilities that have either shut down and are no longer producing emissions, or from facilities that are applying emissions controls that cut their emissions.

The public will have the opportunity to present up to five minutes of oral testimony per speaker during the hearing. To ensure that all speakers have a fair and equal opportunity to present their testimony, relinquishing of time to other speakers will be prohibited, and groups are asked to designate one speaker. All presenters should bring two copies of their comments and exhibits for submission to DEP.

Those who wish to present testimony during the hearing are asked to register in advance by contacting Eileen Bitting in DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office at 717-705-4703. Individuals who register in advance will be given priority on the agenda. If time permits at the hearing, those who did not register in advance will be given the opportunity to testify.

Those who prefer to present their comments in writing or who are unable to attend the hearing may submit written testimony by 4:00 p.m. on April 7 to Thomas Hanlon, DEP Air Quality, Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110.

DEP will provide a written response to all relevant testimony and comments provided during the public hearing and public comment period, and will consider relevant comments in its final review of the application.

Individuals in need of an accommodation for the hearing as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Amanda Witman at 717-787-1323 or make accommodations through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD).

The administrative record for the air quality plan approval application will be open for review and comment until April 7. It can be reviewed, by appointment, weekdays from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office at 909 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg. Call Stacy Burns at 717-705-4732 to make an appointment.

The application, draft permit, and other materials associated with the proposed project are available for review on DEP’s Regional Office webpage.

3/2/2015