State Radon Program Outreach Activities
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Alabama
Alabama Emphasizes Radon in Real Estate in FY 2004
The Alabama Radon Program is a partnership between the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Not being a radon regulatory state, Alabama's radon program is one of education and social marketing. In a cooperative agreement the Department of Public Health passes through more than 90% of the Alabama SIRG grant to the Cooperative Extension System to provide outreach and information dissemination to the citizens of Alabama about radon and Alabama's radon problem. Alabama's program is designed around the concept of a local radon agent serving as the local citizens' primary contact about radon. State administrative and support personnel assist, reinforce, and generate interest and contacts for the local radon agents. There are 17 local radon agents in 13 Zone 1 counties and one Zone 2 county. Information is distributed in a variety of ways including mass media, exhibits, seminars, mass mailings, the internet, extension programs to businesses, community groups, medical professionals, homebuilders, home inspectors, real estate appraisers, Realtors, 4-H youth and school science classes.
For FY 2004, Alabama is placing special emphasis on radon in real estate; both in real estate transactions and in getting new homes built with radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) techniques.
In December 2003, using the mailing list supplied by the Alabama Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Board, a mass mailing was done by the Department of Public Health to the 601 licensed real estate appraisers authorized to work in any of Alabama's Zone 1 counties. The letter informed the appraiser of the extent of the radon problem in their area. It requested that the appraiser join our fight against lung cancer by recommending a radon test for every house they appraise. It informed the appraiser of the name and phone number of their local radon agent and the Alabama radon website as sources of additional information. Lastly, the letter included a coupon for a free radon test kit for the appraiser to test their own residence.
In January 2004, using the mailing list supplied by the Alabama State Board of Realtors, a mass mailing was done by the Department of Public Health to 447 licensed real estate companies located in Alabama's high radon counties. This letter informed the brokers of the radon problem in their area, provided a copy of the EPA Homebuyer's and Seller's Guide, and referred them to both the local agent and the Alabama radon website as sources of additional information. More importantly, we suggest that by recommending a radon test, they are demonstrating to potential buyers that they have their client=s best interest in mind. The response to this mailout was so great that the Alabama program was temporarily unable to fill requests from real estate companies for additional copies of the Homebuyer's and Seller's Guide.
In February 2004, following the advent of the revised form HUD 92564-CN incorporating radon testing as one of the components of a home inspection and the associated January 22, 2004 Mortgagee Letter 2004-4, the Alabama Radon Program, with the assistance of the Alabama Mortgage Bankers Association is initiating an outreach to the mortgage bankers in our Zone 1 counties to provide them with the knowledge to adequately address questions from loan applicants concerning the extent of the radon problem in their area and what can be done about radon.
For several years
Alabama has endeavored, with limited success, to persuade local municipalities
in Zone 1 counties to adopt RRNC as a part of the local building code. More
recently, Alabama is endeavoring to increase public awareness of and demand
for houses that are constructed with radon control methods installed at the
time of construction. To that end, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System
designed a "Radon-Ready"
yard sign to advertise and give recognition to new houses built RRNC. Already
one developer in Mad
ison
County, Adams Homes LLC, has taken the courageous step of voluntarily
constructing all of their new homes utilizing RRNC techniques. The Alabama
Radon Program recognized their efforts by supplying sufficient
"Radon-Ready"
yard signs for all of their newly completed units in each of their 11
subdivisions in the county. In addition to the signs, we also provided
information and publications to the sales staff in each of 10 model homes
constructed by Adams Homes so that the sales staff could explain to
prospective buyers the advantages of purchasing a new home that is built
radon-ready. It is hoped that by stimulating public demand for RRNC, we will
encourage other developers in our high radon counties to also voluntarily
adopt RRNC.
[Posted 4/19/04]
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Alaska
By Rich Seifert, Radon Program Coordinator
For the first quarter, July 1 through September 30, the biggest event
for radon impact is the Tanana Valley State Fair, nine days long, at which I
man a booth paid for and d
evoted
to radon and Indoor Air Quality education and outreach. This is one of the
highest impact events for radon in the public arena, and I contact as many as
500 people with direct radon resistant new construction information and basic
radon information pamphlet handouts.
For the second quarter of our SIRG grant activity, I had one of the most
productive periods in the duration of my radon work. This is due to the fa
ct
that I have revised and updated the radon teaching module, which includes a
powerpoint presentation. This is a major contribution to the “Healthy Indoor
Air for America’s Homes” project and website, (www.healthyindoorair.org) , and
was a major effort of my grant obligation. In addition, the fall season is
always a focus period for radon outreach, and Radon Awareness Week still
occurs the third week in October, event though Radon Awareness month has been
moved to January. Consequently, I teach a one-hour module in my “Cold Climate
Homebuilding” courses around the state, and I did so this fall reaching more
than 200 people in Fairbanks (Oct. 18), Delta junction ( Nov. 8), Palmer (
Nov. 12-13), and Anchorage ( Nov. 15).
I also attended the annual National Radon meeting in Nashville Tennessee, and
made known the module work to attendees. We also ordered a new supply of radon
test kits an
d use some of these to continue a small but steady research effort
in radon in the Fairbanks area, collaborating with Dr. Ron Johnson and Jack Schmid. There is always a continuing demand for radon kits from our office, as
we sell the long term kits and meet the public need for those people not
intending to sell their homes, but rather are interested in determining their
family vulnerability and risk from radon.
Anyone desiring a copy of the new radon educational module, with powerpoint
and script, should simply contact me at: ffrds@uaf.edu. It should also be
available at the website www.healthyindoorair.org, but I don’t know exactly
when. [Posted 3/19/04]
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California
Radon
Program
The California Department of Health Services (DHS) has conducted an indoor radon program for 13 years under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Indoor Radon Abatement Act grant (SIRG) funding. The radon program is housed within the Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, Environmental Management Branch (EMB). The DHS Radon Program consists of one Staff Environmental Scientist who administers the Radon Program on a statewide basis. The objective of the DHS Radon Program is to reduce human exposure to radon in residential and school structures primarily through education and public awareness efforts. The primary goals of the program are to encourage people to test their homes and schools, to mitigate their homes or schools when indoor air concentration of radon greater than or equal to 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) are found, and to build radon resistant homes and schools in areas of high radon potential.
In order to accomplish these goals the radon program conducts public outreach activities and to a much lesser extent it regulates providers of radon services. These public outreach activities include the radon screening project, a free short-term radon test kit distribution program, an 800-telephone line to provide public access to radon information, presentation to community and business groups, maintenance of a website (http://www.dhs.ca.gov/radon/) which has a list of current state-certified testers, mitigators, and laboratories, a statewide database of radon test results from the participating state certified laboratories as well as links to websites information pertaining to radon.
Most recently the cornerstone of the radon program’s outreach activities has been the radon screening project. The DHS and the California Geological Survey (CGS) are in the process of conducting a radon screening project in the Sierra Nevada foothill counties of Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne (see Figures 1&2) and in the planning stages for San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast of California (see Figure 1) which is schedule for screening for this coming fall and winter. The Central Coast (Monterey Formation Figure 3) and Sierra Nevada (primarily granitic rocks Figure 4) regions of California are known to have geological units that contain elevated levels of uranium and correspondingly greater likelihood of elevated indoor levels of radon in the air. Past efforts to encourage testing in these areas by distributing free radon test kits show that only about 10 percent of the test kits were used. In order to gain more information, increase the utilization rate of the test kits, and to help identify radon hot spots of environmental concern, county tax rolls and voter registration records were used as information sources for the mailing of letters recruiting individuals to test their homes for indoor radon levels. Homes selected for participation in the screening project were not selected at random. A pool of individuals to be recruited to test their homes for radon was selected from each specific rock unit in the screening area. The selection process for the recruitment pool factored in the area of the rock unit, the spatial distribution of the prospective sampling points, homeowner exemption, and the number of sampling points available within the rock unit. By sampling households on a variety of different rock units it is hoped that it will be able to identify which rock units, if any, may have a higher than normal potential for radon occurrence in study area. A mass mailing of approximately 25,000 recruitment letters requesting people to participate in the screening project was sent to residents of Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. Roughly 3,000 people agreed to participate in the screening project and were sent radon test kit in February of 2004. As enticement to encourage people to participate in the radon screening project a drawing will be held for at least one free radon mitigation in each county.
Upon receipt of the radon test results, CGS and DHS will determine if adequate data are available to conduct a valid analysis. If data are adequate, an analysis will be conducted in the same manner as previously developed for areas in Santa Barbara, Ventura and northern Los Angeles counties (http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/minerals/hazardous_minerals/radon/Radon_Mapping.pdf ) utilizing geologic information, National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) data, and radon test data. The results will be depicted on radon potential maps and accompanying reports made available to county government and the public through one or more media including the CGS website, in paper, and CD-Rom formats.
Figure 1
Figure 2. Geomorphic Provinces of California
Figure 3. Miocene Marine Sedimentary Rocks
(The Monterey Formation is present in some of these areas)
Figure 4. Distribution of Granitic Rocks in California
[Posted 7/21/04]
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Colorado’s radon activities are conducted through the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Information on the CDPHE radon program can be viewed on our website at: www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/rad/radon.asp
The CDPHE radon program is funded through an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State Indoor Radon Grant and is staffed part time by an Environmental Protection Specialist and a Program Assistant. The majority of the funding is passed through to local governments and educators for public outreach and education activities. Radon projects and contracts with local governments have served 14 counties, 2 cities and approximately 25,000 homes in Colorado in the past year.
The CDPHE maintains a toll-free radon hotline (888-569-1831) and responds to approximately 2,000 calls per year from the general public, other government entities, real estate industry, radon professionals and industry. CDPHE mails out over 25,000 pieces of literature per year on radon.
Although CDPHE has no regulatory authority over radon activities in the state of Colorado, there is a real estate disclosure requirement throughout the state. Also, as of January 1, 2005, the City of Ft. Collins has a new building code that requires installation of passive radon systems in all new single-family home construction.
Colorado has 52 Zone 1 counties (high radon potential) and 12 Zone 2 counties (moderate radon potential).
[Posted January 2005]
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Connecticut
A major activity
of the Connecticut Department of Public Health Radon Program during the second
grant year was the School Testing Program (STP).
The Radon Program performed screening tests in eleven phases for 309 schools in
49 Connecticut municipalities.
(Twelfth phase data are not finalized at this time.)
School selection was based on radon potential and interest in participating in
the STP.
A
thirteenth phase of testing in additional municipalities is proposed for this
grant year. Technical assistance
and follow up consultations by radon staff to the schools’ operations management
will be provided in particular for phase XI schools
where
classrooms have been identified with radon levels in excess of 4.0 pCi/L.
The preliminary results of radon screening tests conducted in Phases I and II of
the STP were presented at the 1992 International Radon Symposium in a paper
entitled "Radon in schools: The Connecticut experience".
The Program also conducts radon in water testing for schools with dedicated
wells. These water sources present
an interesting health risk challenge for local health and education officials. To assist local officials in their
evaluation
of all potential rado
n
sources in Connecticut schools, the Radon Program conducted a series of
evaluations of the contribution of well water radon sources.
The results of these studies were described in a paper entitled “Radon
in school well water: Case studies
and mitigation implications,” presented at the 1994 International Radon
Symposium held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Another major activity of the Radon Program is
the promotion of environmental equity.
Our first major effort in this area was the Year 3 Innovative Project study entitled "An
Assessment of the Unique Problems Associated with the Evaluation and Control of
Radon Exposure Among Low Income Homeowners and Renters in a Selected
Geographical Area." The study focused its efforts on the
Latino population in Hartford, CT. A Spanish language flyer prepared by the
Connecticut Public Health Association Radon Study Group was utilized, and
outreach efforts were provided in partnership with the Hispanic Health Council. Similar projects were conducted in other
geographic areas to increase awareness of radon for Hispanic residents. Additional efforts to promote radon
awareness are currently being developed for other minority groups. We plan to work with community-based
advocacy groups, as well as other national and state partners.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health
Radon Program also entered into contractual agreements with several
Connecticut local health departments to establish local radon programs and to
provide education, outreach, and testing for low-income and minority
populations in target areas.
If you would like more information on Connecticut Department of Public Health
Radon Program education and outreach efforts, please contact Xaviel Soto, Radon
Program Coordinator at (860) 509-7367 or email xaviel.soto@po.state.ct.us or visit
our website at http://www.dph.state.ct.us.
[Posted
November 2003]
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Florida
Two Florida Radon Rangers Retire
Left: Michael
Phillips, Right: Walter Klein
Just as all states and local governments are experiencing revenue shortfalls
and increasing demands for those diminishing dollars, the climate this spring
in Florida is no different. During the early days of the 2003 Legislative
Session, the Florida radon program was notified that its budget had been
identified and was being considered for significant reduction. The radon
program has enjoyed over 15 years of level funding via a statewide building
permit surcharge. A proposed legislative change to a sister department that
shares the surcharge would have eliminated the indoor radon program.
Ultimately, it appeared that a 50% reduction might occur. In light of proposed
budget reduction actions, two senior members of the Florida radon program,
Walter Klein and Michael Phillips, elected to move to other positions within
the department’s radiation control program.
Walter Klein was a founding member of Florida’s radon program and a long time
member of the CRCPD. He was instrumental in establishing Florida’s radon
measurement and mitigation examinations and participated in the creation and
development of the US EPA proficiency examinations. He served as a member of
and chaired CRCPD’s Suggested State Radon Regulations Committee. In 1998, he
received a CRCPD Board of Directors’ Award for Meritorious Service. Before
departing, Walter was promoted and transferred to reserve staff as Lieutenant
Colonel, 1st Florida Radon Rangers.
Michael Phillips, a Florida indoor environments program veteran of nine years,
was best known outside the Sunshine State for his investigation of an elevated
ambient radon phenomena in central Florida and researching, developing and
assisting in the implementation of an employee (radon) exposure control
program at Florida’s only underground attraction, Florida Caverns State Park.
He was an invited speaker on these issues at many national and regional
conferences and seminars. On a daily basis, he provided oversight of radon
business and professional activities, responded to unusual incidences,
provided consultation on indoor air toxics issues and consumed mass quantities
of strong coffee. Before departing, Michael was promoted and transferred to
reserve staff status as Major, 1st Florida Radon Rangers.
While not gone far away, each is missed by the Radon program for their
insights, contributions and unique brands of humor that they brought to
Florida’s indoor radon and indoor air toxics programs.
[Posted 1/5/04]
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Hawaii
By Russell Takata
The Hawaii
Department of Health conducted a
residential radon study in 1989-90 with the EPA. This was done via telephone
survey. I believe 523 homes were surveyed. Levels were below 0.5 pCi/l.
A
school survey was conducted by our office between 1993 and 1996 covering 97
schools and 95% of zip codes. Levels were 0.2 pCi/l.
Based on the fact that we do not have a significant radon problem in Hawaii, the EPA radon grant was dropped in 1996. Radon questions are handled by the existing state radiation program.
We have very little activity on radon. Perhaps, ten calls per year are expected. [Posted June 28, 2004]
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By Kara Stevens
The Idaho Radon Project is housed within the Indoor
Environment Program in the Division of Health. Kara Stevens has managed the
radon project for over 10 years and has expanded her responsibilities to
include manager of the Indoor Environment Program and, most recently, acting
manager of the Environmental Health Unit.
High radon levels have been found in most of Idaho’s
counties. Approximately 36 percent of the homes tested have been above the
EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Our state average is 6.1 pCi/L (almost five
times higher than the national average). The latest Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicates that 83 percent of Idahoans have heard
of radon but only 15 percent have tested their homes.
The goal of the Idaho Radon Project is to promote healthy citizens by reducing their exposure to high radon levels. Several activities have recently been conducted to help us reach this goal, some of which are outlined below.
Realtors
In 2003, we sent out a survey to all licensed realtors in Idaho. We are currently analyzing the surveys to determine how we can best utilize our resources in our educational efforts. We are currently sending out a letter to all the realtor boards throughout the state to introduce our program and offer our services to speak to board members about radon, mold, lead, and other indoor air quality issues. For the past three years, we have included an article on radon in the RealEstatement newsletter that is prepared by the Idaho Real Estate Commission and sent to all licensed realtors in Idaho. In conjunction with the Western Regional Radon Training Center, we have developed an Idaho-specific brochure and video targeted to Realtors and homebuyers and sellers.
Builders
In January 2003, Blaine County (Sun Valley area) became
the first county in Idaho to adopt the building code for installing radon
control methods in all new construction. Blaine County has one of the highest
averages in the state at 10.1 pCi/L with approximately 60 percent of the homes
testing above the EPA action level. We have developed a great partnership
with the Blaine County Building Department.
We send them information packets
on radon resistant new construction and they provide them to every builder
that request a permit. Due to the success of this activity, we are sending
out a sample packet to all county building departments in high radon areas to
let them know additional copies are available from our office. We are also in
the process of developing a survey for builders that will help us direct our
resources.
General Public
Last spring
we traveled across the state for two weeks and conducted eight public
information meetings in communities with high radon averages. Each meeting
was held in the evening and lasted about two hours. We discussed health
effects, testing, mitigation, and radon levels in their area. Participants
received an information packet and free radon test. We had a great response,
educating a total of 285 people. During radon action month we send out a
statewide press release to give away radon tests to the first 1000 callers.
As a result, several reporters ran stories resulting in over 1800 requests for
radon tests. This has been such a successful activity in getting people to
test their homes that we plan do it every January if funding allows.
[Posted 5/18/04]
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Illinois
T
he
Illinois Radon Program is working within a new Agency. The Illinois Emergency
Management Agency (IEMA) is now the lead agency for radon in the state. The
radon program is part of IEMA’s Division of Nuclear Safety. The primary goal of
the radon program is to ensure that Illinois residents receive quality
measurement and mitigation services. The staff work to inform Illinois citizens
about how to measure radon levels and reduce high radon levels in their homes.
The Radon Program continues to license and regulate individuals who provide
radon measurement and mitigation services. Radon Program staff assist radon
professionals in meeting their regulatory requirements through education,
licensing assistance, audits, and evaluation of non-conformance reports.
Partnerships are an important part of the Radon Program, especially for
outreach. One recent partnership with the City of Chicago Public Health
Departments and University of Illinois School of Public Health resulted in
providing training for 18 city health department employees. The Radon Program
has also recently assisted county health departments measure radon levels in
their county buildings.
The Radon Program staff actively work with real estate organizations to educate
real estate agents and has an approved continuing education course available.
The course will be provided twice during October 2004 in the northern part of
Illinois. Work with the construction industry is scheduled to increase through a
series of seminars regarding passive radon construction methods during February
2004. [Posted
in January 2004]
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Iowa
[Posted 12/15/03]
The Iowa Radon Program encompasses many indoor air quality issues
other than radon such as mold, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, etc., and is
officially designated the Iowa Indoor Air Quality/Radon Program. The program is located within the Division
of Health Protection and Environmental Health (DHPEH) in the Bureau of
Environmental Health Services (BEHS).
Since the DHPEH was created (approximately 3 years ago), the number of
certified radon measurement specialists and credentialed mitigation specialists
has increased by about 283%. Presently,
there are 51 certified radon measurement specialists and 34 credentialed radon
mitigation specialists. Reductions to
Iowa’s FY04 SIRG funds resulted in a loss of one FTE and a reduction of random
inspections of regulated parties. Over
the next year, an attempt will be made to amend administrative rules Chapters
43 "Minimum Requirements for Radon Testing and Analysis", and 44
"Minimum Requirements for Radon Mitigation", to facilitate
inspections by local health departments. The Iowa Indoor Air Quality/Radon
Program will provide the necessary training to staff from local health
departments to perform these inspections.
Other changes in regulations will include minor amendments in
measurement certification requirements and the incorporation of an Iowa
Standard for Radon Mitigation Protocols directly into Chapter 44. The Iowa Standard will mimic EPA’s Radon
Mitigation Protocols and the new ASTM E2121-01 mitigation standard, with some
additional requirements.
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Kansas
By Kim Steves
Kansas Radon Coordinator
The
Kansas Radon Program currently has several projects underway. Radon public
service announcements are running Aug. 10 through Oct. 8 on the Kansas
Agriculture Network radio affiliates. The program is also preparing for
exhibits at upcoming Kansas events, including the Kansas State Fair (Sep
10-19) and the Kansas Environment Conference (Sep 1-2)
In addition, the
Kansas Radon Program has initiated a statewide effort of approaching all
county realtor boards and offering radon and real estate continuing
education. 
So far in 2004, the course has been offered in Topeka, Manhattan, Wichita,
Great Bend and Garden City to over 200 Realtors. Scheduled courses include
Junction City, McPherson and Hutchinson in October. The program will have an
exhibit at the annual Realtor tradeshow in Topeka in October as well.
[Posted 9/8/04]
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Kentucky
The Kentucky Indoor Radon Program, in cooperation
with the Kentucky News Network, has created a radio series based on the Radon
Ranger. Monty Holmes, the owner of the
Radon Ranger trademark, has graciously granted Kentucky permission to use the
Radon Ranger characters in this radio series.
The series will be the continuing adventures of the Radon Ranger in
various situations that will underscore the hazards of indoor radon and raise
awareness of the issue. The first
episode aired June 9 on 65 Clear Channel Radio stations in Kentucky. They will run twice in the afternoon on
Mondays and Tuesdays of each week. The
radio spots are part of an outreach effort funded by Federal Environmental
Protection Agency Indoor Radon grant. The state’s Radon Program is in the Kentucky
Department for Public Health. For
information on this project contact Ed Lohr, Kentucky State Radon Coordinator
at 502-564-3700 or e-mail at Edward.Lohr@mail.state.ky.us.
[Posted June 2003]
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The
Maine Radon/IAQ Section has set up a revolving loan fund for radon
mitigations. The loan fund is
administered by the financial branch of a Community Action Program, and the loans can only be made to
the owners of owner occupied single family dwellings, or to non-profit owners of
structures that provide subsidized hous
ing; or to non-subsidized
multiple dwelling unit dwellings if the building is owner occupied (as in a
duplex); or to the owners of
Licensed/registered Daycares; or to Head Start agencies; or to the landlords of
licensed/registered Daycares or Head Start centers for that portion of the
structure used as a Daycare or Head Start Center.
This revolving loan fund has been in the
works for several years. Initially it
was intended to be a state-wide effort serving child care services and low to
moderate income homeowners, but due to problems locating a fund administrator
and the relatively small size of the seed monies ($150K), it has been reduced to
a pilot program in only the se
rvice area of the administering Community
Action Program.
Due
to administrative delays at both the Federal and State level, this program
finally got off the ground in March 2003.
The two year contract with the administrator was signed and approved in
June, 2002, so almost a full year was lost due to the administrative
‘issues.’ At this time we are waiting
for the first official quarterly
report of activity, but initial reports
indicate the loan fund is being well received.
The Maine Radon/IAQ
Section has several other on-going outreach efforts in place, some entering
their 10th year. The
Radon/IAQ Section also is responsible for administering and enforcing Maine’s
radon service provider regulations, with all the usual fun that accompanies a
full-scale regulatory program.
The state’s Radon/IAQ Section is part of the
Radiation Control Program, in the Maine Bureau of Health, Department of Human
Services. For information on this or
other Maine radon efforts, contact Bob Stilwell, Maine Radon/IAQ Coordinator at
207-287-5676 or email to bob.stilwell@maine.gov.
[Posted July 2003]
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Michigan
When Michigan first entered
the State Indoor Radon Grant Program in 1990, radon fell under the auspices of
the Division of Radiological Health in the Department of Public Health. In
1995, a massive reorganization of State
government
moved the radon program to the Drinking Water & Radiological Protection
Division in the newly formed Department of Environmental Quality; and in the
fall of 2002, a DEQ reorganization resulted in the Program’s move to the Waste
and Hazardous Materials Division.
The Michigan Radon Program was and is an outreach and education program with no regulatory authority over radon. Though the State does have a disclosure law that includes radon, and in more recent years adopted the International Code as the state residential code (which took effect in July 2001), the Radon Program has no oversight of those laws.
During the first few years in the SIRG program the state focused on gathering data by conducting a school survey, and then a follow-up residential survey in an Upper Peninsula community that had been identified as a radon “hot spot” in the 1987-88 statewide survey. The focus then shifted to outreach, and in recent years the program agenda has tended to look very much the same from year to year. The budget always includes funding for “the basics” (costs of toll-free telephone line, literature, postage, and general staffing), and then several “special” projects are included as well.
In September of 1993
the State began providing local health departments (LHDs) with free radon test
kits that they could sell to the
public
without reimbursement to the State. The intent was to ensure a source of test
devices in every county in the State, and to also provide the LHDs with a
nominal reimbursement for their efforts (through the fees charged for the
kits). Over time, however, most LHDs have lowered their fees and many offer
the test kits free of charge.
In Fiscal Year 1996 Michigan began providing LHDs with minigrants ranging from $500 to $3,000. The grants required no proposal from the LHD, and no matching funding; the LHD simply had to document their radon-related expenditures and request reimbursement at the end of the fiscal year. The amount allocated to an individual LHD was based on a formula that took into account the number of counties covered by the LHD, the radon potential in those counties, the population, and an arbitrary evaluation of their radon outreach activity over the previous year. The grants have been increased or decreased over time to better suit the needs of the recipients, and the initial grant total of $90,000 has grown to $208,190, with individual grants now ranging from $500 to $16,690. Though there is still no “match” requirement, many LHDs document expenditures above and beyond the amount allocated, and that is/can be used as in-kind match for the SIRG.
Another ongoing project is training for Public Service Personnel (LHD staff, as well as representatives from other governmental agencies, Extension offices, weatherization programs, tribes, and others). This once-a-year training is a two-day event intended to improve or increase the radon problem response capabilities of attendees. The course covers radon from risk to radon-resistant new construction, and the State reimburses the travel costs of training participants. Participants in turn document their training time as an in-kind contribution to the grant (presuming they are not receiving federal funding).
“Industry” training
has also been a recu
rring
project over the years. Though this project initially began as a four-hour
new construction course in the morning followed by a three-hour real estate
course in the afternoon, it was recently merged into one four-hour course for
builders, real estate agents, appraisers, code officials, home inspectors,
lenders, and anyone else who is interested. The State partners with an LHD or
Extension agent who provides a location and refreshments, and assists with
registrations. The State provides the trainer and handout materials, and
develops and mails the registration brochures. Anywhere from one to six
courses might be offered in a year, and attendance ranges from 15 to 50 (or
more). The adoption of the radon-resistant code has increased interest in the
training, and the fact that the course is approved for continuing education
credits for code officials and appraisers also helps.
The last “special” project conducted under the SIRG program is a statewide media campaign. The first campaign was conducted in SIRG 5 when the State worked with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) to get radio and television ads aired during the first half of the fiscal year. MAB provided a 3:1 match for the contract, so the State got more airtime than it paid for and the excess could be used as in-kind match for the Grant.
Unfortunately, due to
the political climate at the time, the media campaign was put on hold for
several years, and it wasn’t until SIRG 12 that the State attempted another
paid media campaign. That year the state contracted with the Michigan Radio
Network (MRN) to provide two weeks of airtime in January 2002, and then in
Fiscal Year 2003 the Radon Program re-approached the MAB about a statewide
media campaign. The MAB campaign provided a more positive response than the
MRN campaign, but also garnered a significant in-kind match for the program.
As such, as funding allows, the State will continue to contract with MAB in
future years.
Though not
specifically highlighted above, it should be noted that LHDs, Extension
agents, and other local partners play a key role in the radon outreach
activities in Michigan, and the
State values their assistance. As such, the agenda in future years will
continue to provide them as many resources as possible, and will likely
include all or most of the above-listed projects. However, Michigan will
also be looking to other state programs for innovative ideas.
[Posted 12/5/03]
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By Joshua J. Kerber
GENERAL
The
Minnesota radon program is housed at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Indoor Air Unit. Currently, MDH is in its 14th year of radon funding through
the Indoor Radon Abatement Act and has three full time positions funded by the
grant including a health physicist, research scientist and administrative
support staff. The overall goal is to lessen the public’s exposure to radon
gas. This is accomplished in a number of different ways.
Minnesota is not a regulated radon state so the radon program focuses its efforts on education and outreach through statewide media campaigns and the efforts of numerous local grantees. Minnesota consists of 68 Zone 1 counties and 19 Zone 2 counties with the local radon programs currently serving more than 92% of the state’s population. There are no Zone 3 counties in Minnesota.
MDH is currently passing through more than $370,000
to 35 city, county and non-profit organizations to conduct radon education and
outreach at the local level. This is the most money and largest number of
grantees MDH has ever had. The increase in the number of grantees appears to
be paying off. For the first time since fiscal year 2000-2001, radon related
phone calls to the MDH Indoor Air Unit has out numbered mold related calls.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
A major outreach activity of MDH is participation in Winter Hazard Awareness Week. This event is cosponsored by six state agencies, the National Weather Service and three non-profit organizations. Thursday, November 6, 2003 focused on indoor air issues including radon and can be viewed at: http://www.hsem.state.mn.us/whaw.asp.
During National Radon Action Month, MDH sent out a press
release to all the media markets in the state to inform the public about the
dangers of radon. Additionally, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the Radon Action
Month in a Minn
esota
Proclamation.
In order to bring more awareness to the community, three of our local partners (St. Paul-Ramsey County, Hennepin County and American Lung Association of Minnesota) worked with the metro area’s largest television news programs and got radon features aired on three of the four major local news shows: CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates. As a result of their efforts, many of the local grantees and MDH received an influx of phone calls and some agencies even ran out of test kits to distribute.
Each year, National Radon Action Month in Minnesota culminates with the Spring Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, which is the largest home show in the upper Midwest. MDH and members of the Minnesota Indoor Air Quality Coalition staffed a booth at the show and distributed more than 1,000 radon-related publications.
website
Currently, MDH has eight radon publications on its website, with links to other sites including EPA. During the first half of SIRG 14, the radon-related web publications were viewed over 11,600 times. In addition, an entire web page dedicated to local SIRG participants was created. Now grantees can download the appropriate forms and templates to better perform their grant duties and stay updated with radon activities statewide. The MDH SIRG website can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/sirg.html.
SCHOOLS
During the winter of 2003, MDH started a Radon Testing in
Schools Pilot Project. A letter was sent to each school district’s
superintendent and indoor air quality coordinator informing them of the
project. The letter stated that M
DH
would provide an estimated 3,000 long-term alpha track radon detectors to be
placed in classrooms throughout the state of Minnesota and the detectors could
be available free of charge to participating schools/districts that met the
following criteria:
- Participants must be able to match funds one-to-one with the value of the radon detectors. The funds could be in the form of staff time, or cost of consultant’s time spent on the project and most be documented.
- Radon detectors need to be placed in accordance to EPA protocols.
- Districts needed an assigned Minnesota Department of Education certified Indoor Air Quality Coordinator with an acceptable Indoor Air Quality Management Plan.
- Commitment from management and/or administration to lower any elevated levels of radon if found or develop a plan to reduce radon levels within two years.
A total of 13 school districts applied for nearly 5,700
detectors. Ten districts were chosen to participate, three located in the
Twin Cities metro area and seven out-state. The three local districts
deployed the detectors with guidance from MDH in February 2004 and then
collected them at the end of the school year. Results from most of these
detectors are still pending, but preliminary results are showing very few, if
any, elevated radon levels in the participating schools. The rem
aining
seven school districts plan to deploy the detectors in September 2004, run
them through the end of the school year and collect them after Memorial Day
2005. MDH has also offered to consult with these school districts to help
identify and fix any radon problems in their buildings.
RESEARCH
Builders in Minnesota are reluctant to build homes radon resistant because they do not see it as a value added service and have been burned in the past with energy codes requiring them to build houses tighter which lead to many mold problems. If we can demonstrate that radon reduction systems (either RRNC or retrofitted mitigation) can not only reduce radon levels in the home, but also lessen the chance of moisture intrusion, then we can approach the building community and show them the added benefits of building homes radon resistant. To this end, MDH has partnered with the University of Minnesota to conduct an RRNC/ASD and soil moisture study in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) area. Details of the study are still being worked out, but plans are to begin in October 2004. A similar study is being conducted in EPA Region 4, but that is being conducted in an entirely different climate under different conditions.
If you would like more information regarding the MDH radon program, please contact Joshua Kerber, Research Scientist at (800) 798-9050, email joshua.kerber@state.mn.us or visit our radon website at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/radon/index.html.
All photos are courtesy of the Minnesota Office of Tourism. [Posted August 2004]
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Mississippi
by
Johnnie Evans, Radon Program Coordinator
The Mississippi Radon Program's goal is to increase public awareness of radon and its health effects and to encourage citizens to test their homes for radon. To accomplish this goal, the Radon Program displays radon exhibits at trade organizations and other conference/ meetings. A toll-free radon information line [1-800-626-7739] is also maintained to address citizen inquiries, and enable individuals to request additional information concerning radon. To heighten awareness during January 2004, National Radon Action Month, a schedule of our activities was released to the media and a public service announcement is being aired. Free test kits are being offered to citizens calling the Radon Information Line (RIL), to encourage them to test their homes for radon.
The Radon Program is continuing its effort on implementing a Radon In Schools Program (RIS). This program is designed to screen schools statewide for radon, and to provide long-term testing, if needed. As part of our outreach efforts, we encourage principals to hold student assemblies, whenever possible, to allow us to discuss with the student body what is being done and why. Regardless of whether or not an assembly is held, the principal is supplied with a sufficient amount of copies of "A Mississippian=s Guide to Radon," and the EPA's "Citizen's Guide to Radon," to provide one to each student, teacher, and staff member.
In an effort to foster a cooperative relationship with school districts, the radon staff met with the district superintendent and school administrators within the Walthall County School District. This meeting, held in Tylertown, Mississippi during November 2003, provided an opportunity for radon awareness and education before the radon screening of schools began in the school district. (Posted February 2004)
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By Randall Maley
On July 1, 2003, Missouri began implementing the first State Indoor Radon Grant it had received in more than five years. The radon program is a major piece of the state’s Indoor Air Program, which is housed within the Section for Environmental Public Health in the Department of Health and Senior Services. Nine months into the grant, our staff has given out over 3000 short-term detectors to county health departments or directly to the public, and fielded almost 350 phone calls on radon. In September and October, we (along with Bruce Snead from Kansas State University) trained more than 180 state and county environmental personnel on radon and other indoor air contaminants. Our next round of training will target real estate professionals.
We have put together a radon display board and have shown it at several shows, seminars, and health fairs. We also had it up at the State Capitol one day and talked to some of our legislators. The only real problem we have run into (besides the low level of public awareness outside the St. Louis area) is that builders are reluctant to build radon-resistant houses. Their position is that they are not going to build radon-resistant houses until their customers see radon-resistance as a value-added feature and start asking for it. As a result, we are going to focus our efforts on increasing public awareness of radon and the associated cancer risk.
Our school testing plan is on schedule. To date, we have installed more than 900 radon detectors in six counties of the state. So far, only one school has chosen not to participate in our voluntary testing program. Additional testing will be conducted later this year. We already have a school science teacher and some local public health personnel who have agreed to help us with this activity. With their help, we’ll be able to test more schools and will be looking to achieve our goal of testing every public school in the state ahead of our original goal. (Highlighted 4/30/04)
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The Nebraska Radon Program is an active program funded by the Environmental Protection Agency that consists of statewide activities as well as local events funded through mini-grants (pass-through money). The program serves the entire state of Nebraska, which has counties in all three radon zones (see map). The majority of Nebraska’s population is in the eastern part of the state, which is zone one.
Statewide activities include a toll-free radon hotline number (1-800-334-9491), education and outreach in the form of publications, information to the public, and presentations to various audiences. We offer training courses for the general public in the areas of Radon in Real Estate and Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC), and continuing education classes for our licensed professionals.
Since Nebraska is a regulatory state, the Radon Program licenses mitigation and measurement businesses and professionals, and maintains a database of radon-related information. The public can access radon highs, lows and averages by county or zip code.
The state program also awards mini-grants to local non-profit organizations for the purposes of radon education at the local level. Events funded by pass-through money include presentations by county health officials, distribution of materials at local events (including free radon test kits), development of web-based radon educational sites, and general education and outreach. Mini-grant recipients currently include county health departments, University of Nebraska Extension offices, and the Nebraska Radon Coalition. [Posted March 2005]
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New Jersey
New
Jersey’s radon activities are conducted through the Radon Section of the
Bureau of Environmental Radiation, New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). Information on our radon program can be viewed at
www.njradon.org. The Radon section of the DEP serves as an outreach and
educational program as well as a regulatory authority. Outreach activities
include a toll-free radon hotline at 1-800-648-0394 that answers more than
4,000 calls per year, presentations and exhibits to school and health
officials, Realtors and builders.
Regulation
New Jersey requires that all individuals and businesses responsible for radon measurement and mitigation be certified. In 2004, 700 testing and mitigation applications were filed, 50,000 radon tests were conducted and 3,000 mitigations were performed.
Staff
members are drafting new certification regulations. The current regulations
will be repealed. Many requirements will be changed for individual and
business certifications; fees will be re-evaluated and requirements will be
clarified so they can be more easily understood and enforced.
[The Radon staff from left to right, first row: Emelia Bellan, Shantha Shashidhara, Suellen May. Second row, left to right: Herb Roy, Mohammed Rahman, Kara Kroll, Anita Kopera. Not pictured: Chuck Renaud, Maxine McMillan.]
The Radon Section also maintains a database of all radon test and mitigation data and all certification records for the New Jersey radon testers and mitigators certification program. These data include radon levels in homes that have been tested and/or mitigated, the locations of the testing and mitigations, comprehensive certification information for all businesses and individuals, and billing information. The Radon Program uses the data for statistical reports for the EPA, to update the New Jersey Radon Tier Map, and for enforcement and inspection purposes.
This past year, this database has been converted from a dBase system to a user-friendly system (Oracle). The new database automates many tasks that were previously accomplished manually, such as generating expiration letters, invoices and certificates, and eventually a summary report from specified items in monthly reports.
Outreach and Education
In 2004, New Jersey updated the statewide map showing three tiers of radon potential. Municipalities are divided into three tiers based on the potential to have elevated indoor radon concentrations. Red is high radon potential (25% or more of homes have radon levels at 4 pCi/L or above), green is moderate radon potential (5-24% of homes have radon levels 4 pCi/L or above), blue is low radon potential (less than 5% of homes have levels at 4 pCi/L or above). Thirty-four municipalities in the state were reclassified based on test results from 700,000 homes and schools. The previous most recent revision was in 1996.
Municipalities that have high radon potential (Tier 1) are required to have radon-resistant construction in new homes. In this type of construction, a gas permeable layer (e.g., 4-inch layer of gravel) is used beneath the slab to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. Then plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer to prevent the soil gas from entering the home. A 3- or 4-inch PVC or other gas-tight pipe runs from the gas permeable layer through the house and roof to vent radon above the house. If the home is found to have elevated levels of radon, an electrical venting fan is installed to activate the system for a lower cost than the installation of a radon mitigation system without radon-resistant construction.
The New Jersey DEP Radon Section also implemented the Elevated Radon Awareness Program (ERAP) to amplify outreach efforts in communities where homes are reported to have radon concentrations of 100 pCi/L or more.
The ERAP provides reimbursement to municipal officials of up to $1,000 for test kits to distribute them for free to residents. Fifty-four municipalities were eligible and 24 participated.
Radon Testing in Child
Care Centers and Schools
In 1997, a law was passed by the New Jersey legislature requiring radon testing in all childcare centers, every five years. In 2000, the law was passed that required all public schools to test for radon by 2005 and every 5 years thereafter.
The DEP and the Department of Education (DOE) were directed by the law to implement the school-testing program. The law required that the DOE, in consultation with DEP, develop guidelines for testing. Since the DEP has operated an extensive radon certification for the past 18 years, the legislature gave DEP the responsibility to ensure that the testing and remediation are done properly and that school officials, parents and radon professionals are well-informed and prepared to comply with the requirements of the law.
Last year, three school entities filed separate complaints with the New Jersey Council of Local Mandates (Council). The complaints requested that the Council rule that N.J.A.C. 8A:20-40 was an unfunded mandate and to issue a rule forbidding its enforcement.
The
New Jersey Attorney General's Office filed a brief on behalf of the State in
support of the motion to dismiss the complaints challenging the radon-testing
requirement in schools. On August 20, 2004, the Council concluded that
N.J.S.A.18A:20-40 constituted an unfunded mandate and ceased to be mandatory
in effect and expires. In other words, the legislation was struck down, and
presently there is no law that requires public schools to test for radon.
Decisions of the Council are final and are not subject to appeal. In order to reinstate the law, New Jersey legislators will have to decide how to provide school districts the funding necessary to perform radon testing. The schools are no longer required to test for radon.
The DEP still strongly encourages schools to continue testing for radon, and the DEP Commissioner sent letters to school administrators urging them to test. Although schools are continuing to test, the data is being evaluated to assist the DEP in targeting appropriate outreach initiatives.
Funding
New Jersey’s radon program is funded through an EPA State Indoor Radon Grant and fees. Nine full-time and one temporary employee staff the program. [Posted July 17, 2005]
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New York State’s (NYS) radon related activities
began in the late 1970's. At that time
the radon issue was raised as one of many possible indoor air pollutants that
could be enhanced as a result of the reduction of air infiltration rates for
energy conservation purposes.
Following the discovery of very high levels of
radon in homes located in Pennsylvania in 1984, the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), as well as a number of states, including New York,
became active in carrying out a more diverse radon program. A number of local health departments and
counties have conducted radon surveys within their jurisdiction and others have
participated in the state's radon program.
Since 1986 the NYS Department of Health (DOH) radon program services include or have included: a public information program; low cost radon detector distribution to state residents and school districts; training programs in radon measurement, mitigation and radon resistant new construction; technical assistance; and financial assistance to residents with elevated indoor radon levels. (NYS defers to the national certification organizations for measurement and mitigation services versus maintaining a certification program).
The Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection
(BERP) is the lead entity for the NYS DOH radon program. Partnership with other entities is in large
part responsible for radon program activities.
Such partners include the DOH Bureau of Health Media and Marketing, DOH
Wadsworth Center and DOH Environmental Laboratory Approval Program, New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority, county health departments and
the Eastern Regional Radon Training Center (ERRTC).
Projects and Activities:
-The Central New York Coalition for Healthy Indoor
Air, Inc. was one of eight coalitions established nationwide in 1997with
funding and training from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The DOH Bureau of Health Media and Marketing
is the primary interface with this effort.
The Coalition adopted an innovative approach to provide mitigation
services to low-income homeowners. A
representative of the Coalition was sent to the ERRTC to become a certified
mitigator. A portion of EPA supported
minigrant funds and funds from NACo were used to cover costs for labor and
materials. Plans are to send other
Coalitions members to become certified mitigators. In return for training, the mitigators will be expected to
provide services for two residential mitigation projects. Also employed as a strategy is
fee-for-service mitigations. Homeowners
who could do so would pay for mitigation services. A share of each fee would be expected to be returned to the
Coalition to fund future mitigations.
For information on the Coalition, see their website:
http://www.cnyhealthyair.org
-The DOH Wadsworth Center has performed mapping projects
to graphically depict radon measurement data.
There are overall state maps and individual county maps broken down to
city and town boundaries. These maps
are available on the DOH website or available in hard copy. They have been useful, and are frequently
requested for use by real estate offices.
-The DOH BERP promotes radon testing in schools by
providing low cost radon test kits and technical guidance for kit
placement. Workshops have been
conducted with school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services
which often provides health and safety services to school districts. Assistance may also be available through the
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for diagnostic and
mitigation services.
-DOH BERP and Bureau of Community Environmental
Health and Food Protection are partners with New York City and seven county
health departments in the “Healthy Neighborhood Program” (HNP). HNP is a door-to-door community based program
designed to provide preventive
environmental health services to targeted geographic areas with a high rate of
documented unmet environmental health needs.
These unmet needs often result in adverse health outcomes for the
residents. The program distributes free
radon test kits and education/outreach material for radon testing and services
to residents in the targeted areas.
For information visit
the NYS DOH Radon Program website:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/radonhom.htm;
contact by e-mail: radon@health.state.ny.us;
or call (518) 402-7556
