State environmental regulators have signed off on an air quality plan and now construction of a $59 million soybean-processing plant near Harrisburg is expected to begin next month.
The state Department of Environmental Protection approved the Perdue AgriBusiness plan in Conoy Township on Thursday. Opponents can still appeal the decision.
Perdue says the plant is scheduled to be completed by September 2017.
The proposed plant has faced opposition over emissions of a federally designated hazardous air pollutant, which federal regulators say can eventually cause issues with the central nervous system.
State regulators say the plant will operate under the most restrictive state and federal limits.
State agricultural officials have praised the decision, along with the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County and the County Agriculture Council.
