The Radon Reporter Summer 2019

The radon reporter / Summer 2019 13 properly trained and certified radon professionals and, as it has in other licensed professions, will enhance consumer demand for radon services. enforcement cases will let other professionals and the public know that radioactivity is a serious business. Some of the trouble spots for state regulatory programs can be statutory and regulatory references to outdated standards, failure to ensure that multifamily projects comply with 100% testing of ground floor units as required in the ANSI-AARST standard, and the absence of requirements pertaining to approved radon measurement devices and/or quality control. Such matters require ongoing discussion and dialogue between radon professionals and state radon policy makers to ensure policy keeps up with industry best practice. In states with no regulatory program in place, there appears to be a growing vacuum of public accountability for compliance with professional radon standards. While the EPA- funded radon program requires funded states to publicize listings of radon professionals credentialed by EPA-recognized proficiency programs (NRSB and NRPP), in the non- regulated states untrained personnel have unlimited access to unsuspecting consumers. The absence of proficiency requirements in these states allows unqualified personnel to conduct radon-related services and enables entities not recognized by EPA to issue unproven credentials. The value of certification and licensing programs is paramount in the competitive marketplace, especially when dealing with radioactivity. Once the real estate community and consumers experience unsatisfactory radon results from fly-by-night, untrained professionals, the public image of properly trainedandcertified radonprofessionals and the value of their skilled services are in danger of becoming diminished. To counter this trend, AARST Chapters and professionals have been working to secure recognition of national standards and licensure through recognized private certification programs that require adherence to such standards. -Jane Malone The biennial report on radon certification State Certification and Licensure Laws D REGULATORY W PASSED TASK FORCE CONTINUING CONVERSATION