Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has approved Perdue Agribusiness LLC’s application to use emission reduction credits (ERCs) at its soybean processing facility under construction in Conoy Township, Lancaster County.

To protect the environment, facilities such as Perdue’s are required to purchase credits generated by the permanent reduction of emissions at other facilities.

Air quality in Southcentral Pennsylvania is affected by emissions from a larger area, known as the Northeast Ozone Transport Region, which includes neighboring states such as New York.

Perdue will use 175.7 tons per year of volatile organic compound (VOC) credits from an industrial facility in Little Valley, New York, 76.59 tons per year of VOC credits from an industrial facility in Depew, New York, 9.11 tons per year of VOC credits from an industrial facility in Belleville, PA, and 6.6 tons per year of VOC credits from an industrial facility in Neville, PA.

“It is important to note that while VOC’s are considered to be ozone pollution precursors, the regional air quality is not expected to be negatively impacted by the operation of this plant,” said DEP Southcentral Regional Director Joseph Adams. “After a thorough review, DEP has determined that this application meets Pennsylvania’s Air Quality regulations and the standards established by the Clean Air Act. The use of these credits is part of the federal air emission requirements for this facility, which has the most stringent requirements of any similar facility in the country.”

DEP conducted a public hearing on the ERC application in July and received multiple comments. DEP’s responses to public comments, as well as other documentation of DEP’s ERC decision, can be found on the DEP Southcentral Regional Office Community Information webpage.

The use of emission reduction credits is required by the Air Plan Approval DEP issued to Perdue in May of 2016 for construction and operation of the soybean plant. This is the final permit needed from DEP for this facility.

Questions should be directed to John Repetz, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, at 717-705-4904 or send email to: jrepetz@pa.gov.

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