Pennsylvania DEP announces host municipality inspector grants from 2003 and 2004

Harrisburg, PA— PA Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced the Department of Environmental Protection reimbursed $429,795 to 44 municipal and county governments for employing host municipality inspectors in 2003 and 2004.

“Host municipality inspectors provide an independent evaluation and give a community a voice with the waste operation concerning the host municipality’s priorities,” McGinty said. “The host municipality inspector program is another inspection tool in addition to the work done by DEP. By helping to ensure a community’s air and water are protected and that nuisances are minimized, this program provides residents a greater quality of life and peace of mind.”

Municipalities that host municipal waste landfills, resource recovery (waste-to-energy) facilities and commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities can employ host municipality inspectors. The host municipality inspector can investigate complaints, follow-up on observations and positively influence the impact of day-to-day operations on the community.

These inspectors are trained and certified by DEP. They are authorized to enter property, review records required by the department, take samples and perform inspections.

In 2004, these host municipality inspectors performed more than 4,600 inspections of commercial hazardous waste facilities, municipal waste landfills and resource recovery facilities.

The total reimbursement for host municipality inspectors of municipal waste landfills and resource recovery facilities under Act 101, Section 1102 for fiscal year 2004 was $407,142. In addition there was a $1,615 reimbursement to Berks County for 2003.

The total reimbursements for host municipality inspectors of commercial hazardous waste facilities under Act 108, Section 304 for fiscal year 2004 were $21,038.

Both of these grant programs reimburse host municipalities 50 percent of the approved costs of the salaries and expenses associated with employing host municipality inspectors.

Currently, more than 80 percent of the municipal waste landfills and 40 percent of the resource recovery facilities have active host municipality inspectors.

Since 1990, DEP has trained more than 350 people and has reimbursed more than $3.7 million to host municipalities for participating in the program.