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U.S. EPA Indoor Radon Policy Two Decades of Experience

EPA's Indoor Radon Program. National and Voluntary (4pCi/L Action Level) Outreach

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U.S. EPA Indoor Radon Policy Two Decades of Experience

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    1. Philip P. Jalbert Indoor Environments Division. U.S. EPA {jalbert.philip@epa.gov, 202.343.9431} U.S. EPA Indoor Radon Policy ~Two Decades of Experience ~

    2. EPAs Indoor Radon Program

    3. EPA Map of Radon Zones Legend Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

    4. Action Level - 4pCi/L (148 Bq/m3)

    5. c. 100M should test homes c. 6% (1:15) of homes > 4 pCi/L c. 5.5-6.0M existing homes > 4 pCi/L c. 60,000 new homes/yr > 4 pCi/L Scope of the Radon Risk in Homes

    6. Existing Homes (test/mitigate) 7.5M Real Estate Transactions annually 45K Relocations daily New Homes (radon-resistant, test/mitigate) Code Adoption by States, Counties & Localities ICC/IRC (App F), NFPA 5000 RRNC Adoption by Builders

    7. 2012 Goal is to have 3.9M homes w/reduced risk {8.4M homes > 4 pCi/L} 1.5 M w/operating mitigation system (HOMS) 632K HOMS (2005) (93K in 05) (data from radon vent fan manufacturers) 2.4M built radon-resistant (RRNC) 1.3M (2004) (85K in 04) (data from NAHB/RC annual survey)

    9. Radon-ready/resistant (RRNC)

    11. Mitigating Existing Homes

    13. Lives Saved-Lung Cancer Deaths Prevented*

    14. Radon-SIRG FY06 Budget ($8.7M) SIRG $7.4M (85%) (an average of $7.8M per year since 2002) (Presidents request for FY07 is $8M) CRAT* $1.3M (15%) Contracts $850K Partners $480K *Center for Radon & Air Toxics, IED, ORIA, EPA

    15. Principal Public Policy Guidance www.epa.gov/radon Citizens Guide to Radon (1992, 2005) Home Buyers and Sellers Guide to Radon (1993, 2005) Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction (2003) Building Radon Out (2001) EPA Map of Radon Zones (1993) EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (2003) Technical Support Document (1992)

    16. Major Outreach Tools (Real Estate, Consumers, Builders, Schools)

    17. Emmy Man on the Street

    20. Challenges & Opportunities Educating professionals: education, health & medical, press, industry, real estate & state/local & Tribal governments Getting builders & their subcontractors to install radon-resistant features correctly Finite State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) funding Balancing State-Tribal requests for SIRG funds {50 States & 562 Tribes, Native Peoples}

    21. Challenges & Opportunities Including radon in green/healthy building programs {e.g., EnergyStar Homes w/IAQ Package, LEED, home performance contracting} Measuring results at the State-Tribal level Perception that concentrations <4 pCi/L are safe (i.e., low or no risk) Explaining the differences in risk between radon in air and drinking water

    24. Radon & IAQ Info IAQ Info 1-800-438-4318 / 703-356-4020 iaqinfo@aol.com

    25. Chronology Stanley Watras case (1984) EPA Proficiency Program (1985-1998) Citizens Guide (1986, 1992 - 4th Edition) Radon Reduction Methods (1986) BEIR IV (NRC/NAS, 1988) Regional Radon Training Centers (1989) Radon Potential Map (1993) State Indoor Radon Grant Program (SIRG, 1990) Consumers Guide Radon Reduction (1992)

    26. Chronology Radon New Construction Standard (1991) Technical Support Document (TSD, 1992) Measurement Device Protocols (1992) Radon Mitigation Standards (1992) Home Buyers & Sellers Guide (1993) Protocols for Measurements in Homes (1993) BEIR VI (NRC/NAS, 1999) Mitigation System Inspection Checklist (2000) Assessment of Risks From Radon in Homes (2003)

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