Federal Policy

Entity

Resource(s)

US Congress Indoor Radon Abatement Act
US Environmental Protection Agency

Radon Program
Federal Register notice about credentialing bodies

US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide
Proposed Changes to MAP Guide
Multifamily and PHA Letters

Healthy Homes Program

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cancer Prevention and Control: Radon

Multiple Organizations

National Radon Action Plan
Federal Radon Action Plan

 

EARTH Study Preliminary Results: Partial Testing of Multifamily Buildings Will Misrepresent Radon

“Evaluating and Assessing Radon Testing in Housing with Multifamily Financing” (EARTH) is a HUD-funded Healthy Homes Technical Study led by Health Research Inc. for the New York State Department of Health with assistance from the National Center for Healthy Housing. The primary aim of the study is to develop an evidence-based, statistically sound protocol for measurement professionals to correctly characterize a multifamily building’s radon level that is sufficiently protective of occupant health without being unduly burdensome to transactions or property owners. This table presents the probability of missing a unit with a radon level above the EPA action level, based on the % of units sampled, according to the analysis of data for 8,000 units across 600 multifamily buildings in the US. The data indicate, across building sizes, that it is not possible to characterize radon levels correctly in a multifamily building unless radon measurement occurs in at least 90% of the ground-contact units. While subsequent publications (such as the final report to HUD and related journal article) will contain additional information, the data and trend presented by this table will not change. 
The work that provided the basis for this document was supported by funding under cooperative agreement # NYHHU0038-17 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this presentation. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.

AARST Comment on EPA Notice about Credentialing Bodies

In August 2017, EPA issued a Federal Register notice that the Agency intends to establish voluntary criteria for a standard of competence for organizations that credential radon service providers.  AARST supports EPA resuming its statutory role. In its November 2017 comment, AARST recommended that EPA create and maintain systems for a balanced group of stakeholders to define minimal requirements for credentialing bodies (i.e. proficiency programs), to develop Jobs, Tasks and Skills Analyses for nationally-defined radon certifications that each credentialing body (including NRPP) would use, and to maintain a secure exam test data base.