Host Municipality Inspectors (HMI) Program

The Host Municipality Inspectors (HMI) Program is administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and was established in 1990 under the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101) and the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (Act 108). The program was created to support local oversight of waste management operations by training and certifying individuals to serve as Host Municipality Inspectors within municipalities that host facilities such as municipal waste landfills, resource recovery facilities, or commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal sites. These inspectors provide independent evaluations of waste operations and represent the interests and priorities of their municipalities. Over time, the program has supported municipalities through reimbursements totaling millions of dollars, reinforcing its long-standing role in environmental monitoring and compliance. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to reimburse eligible host municipalities for a portion of the costs associated with employing certified Host Municipality Inspectors. The funding supports municipalities in maintaining oversight of potentially high-impact waste facilities, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and promoting public health and safety. Funds are specifically intended to offset employment-related expenses for up to two certified inspectors per municipality, with reimbursement limited to 50 percent of approved eligible costs incurred during the previous calendar year. Eligible applicants are municipalities in Pennsylvania that qualify as “host municipalities,” meaning they contain a qualifying waste facility. Participation requires the municipality to nominate an individual for DEP-provided training, after which the individual must complete certification and maintain active status. Only municipalities employing certified inspectors are eligible to apply for reimbursement. The program emphasizes continued training and recertification, requiring inspectors to complete advanced training every three years and maintain active inspection duties to remain eligible. The application process follows a structured sequence. First, municipalities must nominate an individual for training. Once the individual completes certification and begins work as an inspector, the municipality becomes eligible to apply for reimbursement. At the end of each calendar year, DEP notifies eligible municipalities about the availability of the reimbursement application through the Electronic Single Application (ESA) system. Applicants must then submit their applications along with required documentation, including activity logs and receipts verifying eligible expenses. The evaluation and reimbursement process is straightforward and based primarily on compliance with documentation requirements and eligibility criteria. Applications are processed in the order received, and as long as there are no issues with submitted materials, reimbursements are typically issued within eight to twelve weeks. The program does not describe a competitive scoring process but instead functions as a reimbursement mechanism contingent on meeting program requirements and submitting complete documentation. The application timeline for the current cycle indicates that applications open on March 31, 2026, and close on June 5, 2026. The program operates on an annual cycle, with DEP providing updates and application availability each year. Although reimbursement is tied to expenses from the previous calendar year, municipalities must adhere to the specified submission window to receive funding. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the DEP via the provided program email, ensuring applicants have access to support throughout the process.

Ensure inspector certification is active and submit complete documentation including logs and receipts to avoid processing delays.