National Radon Action Plan: Core Components

1. National Radon Action Plan: Core Components

2. #1: BUILD IN RADON RISK REDUCTION • Strategy 1.1: Work with housing mortgage and insurance providers to adopt policies that require radon testing and mitigation as standard practice. • Outcome we seek: Housing finance and insurance industries take actions that will increase radon testing and mitigation in homes.

3. Strategy 1.1Update - Secondary Mortgage Market • Identified key housing finance sector stakeholders, policy makers • Met with secondary market stakeholders and related agencies: Fannie Mae; Freddie Mac; Federal Housing Finance Agency; Congressional oversight leadership • Ongoing delivery of core risk management message and policy solutions • Understanding policy processes, information needs • Several proposals sent to FHA

4. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #1: BUILD IN RADON RISK REDUCTION • Strategy 1.2:Embed radon risk-reduction requirements in state and local building codes. • Outcome we seek: State and local building codes require that homes be built to resist radon.

5. Strategy 1.2Update—Plan for RRNC Adoption • Identified 8 target states to target for adoption of RRNC measures : CO GA IA KS NE NY OH PA • Recognizing some target states have little local support • Looking for other states • Need to identify sponsors, advocacies, allies/opponents • AARST is holding advocates training in December • Aiming for International Code Council to have effective standards • IBC: won first time ever Appendix N at hearing, lost online vote • IRC: Appendix F update pending – hearing October 23+ • Began dialogue with the National Ass’nof Home Builders

6. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #1: BUILD IN RADON RISK REDUCTION • Strategy 1.3: Develop research base on the cost-effectiveness of preventive and mitigation actions for radon in energy upgrades. • Outcome we seek: Energy upgrades include radon risk reduction as standard practice where needed.

7. Strategy 1.3 Update: Develop Research Base • Met with NASCSP on 7/28 to develop working relationship and future direction. • AARST and CRCPD working with Indoor Climate Research and Training, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for additional research on weatherization and radon. • EPA and Illinois have contacted Building Performance Institute (BPI).

8. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #2: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 2.1: Ensure radon is a priority risk addressed in healthy homes programs and grant-making. • Outcomes: Criteria for national programs promoting healthy homes include radon risk reduction.

9. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #2: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 2.3: Secure direct support to reduce radon risk for low-income Americans in homes, schools and childcare centers. • Outcomes: Radon mitigation is finance in buildings where the occupants are unable to afford testing and mitigation

10. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #2: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 2.2: Leverage government-backed and other housing loans to cover radon mitigation. • Outcomes: New sources of funding area available to motivate homeowners to test for and mitigate high radon levels.

11. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #2: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 2.4: Leverage tax incentives, including health spending accounts, to cover radon mitigation costs. • Outcomes: Tax Incentives exist that increase voluntary radon testing and mitigation.

12. Strategy 2.4Update: Tax Incentives • Leverage Employer Plans • Compiled information on the largest employers in each state • Collected information on their benefit plans and identified plan administrators • Collected information on current policies and model plans to include radon in benefit plans • Next step: develop a plan to reach out to these administrators • Income Tax Credit - SB 2575 HR 5251 introduced

13. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #3: Build Capacity to Test and Mitigate Using Professional Radon Services • Strategy 3.1: Finalize and disseminate consensus standards for testing, mitigating and ensuring measurement device accuracy. • Outcomes: Quality professional standards to support the certified radon services industry are widely recognized, disseminated and adopted.

14. Strategy 3.1 Update: Standards/Credentials • Baseline – Credentials • Device Approval and Accredited Chambers • All States Rely on NRPP and NRSB • Regulated States • 15 states regulate radon services • 2 states becoming regulated (KY and MN) • NRPP or NRSB Exams as Condition of License: 14 states • NRPP/NRSB Certification as Condition of License: 6 states

15. Strategy 3.1 Update: Standards/Credentials Define Basics for Certification Criteria Establish National Basic Criteria for Credentials/Licensing Recognize Core National Standards as Part of Credentials Accreditation of Credentialing

16. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #3: Build Capacity to Test and Mitigate Using Professional Radon Services • Strategy 3.2: Provide training on high-quality radon testing and mitigation in home health and safety training. • Outcome we seek: Home health and safety training programs for in-home service practitioners routinely include radon.

17. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #3: Build Capacity to Test and Mitigate Using Professional Radon Services • Strategy 3.3: Promote the radon profession to practitioners, such as home inspectors. • Outcome we seek: More certified radon professionals are available nationwide.

18. Strategy 3.3 Update: Expand Credentialed Workforce Baseline - Current Certified/Licensed Capacity

19. Strategy 3.3 Update: Expand Credentialed Workforce • Train the Trainers – Key Goal • 3 Month Lead Time To Train 24-30 Additional Trainers • Use Current Experienced Trainer Pool • Invite Partner Associations • Partnerships • NRPP, NRSB on Certifications, Re-certifications • Reinstate Lapsed Certifications (1200) • Identify Any Necessary Criteria • Home Inspector Associations - Measurement • Building Performance and Homebuilder Institute - Mitigators

20. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #4: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 4.1: Promote radon testing and mitigation through a comprehensive disclosure of health risk to home buyers and loan borrowers. • Objective: State and local laws require that seller disclose knowledge of radon levels and information about radon to prospective buyers. During sales, borrowers request testing and mitigation where needed.

22. Strategy 4.1 Update: Disclosure/Awareness • Baseline: established core messages of risk management and an enhanced voluntary “notification” program in 9 states • Strategy 1.1 work supports awareness policies at the national/ federal level • Related bills introduced in TN, MO

23. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #4: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 4.2: Encourage state cancer control plans to prioritize radon. • Objectives: State cancer control plans include strategies for reducing radon.

24. Strategy 4.2 Update: Cancer Control Plans • 41 current cancer plans include some radon-related terms • 41% plans support radon policy activities (17) • 46% mention remediation (19) • 51% mention testing (21)

25. Radon-related activities in Cancer Plans

26. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #4: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 4.3: Focus on radon in coordinated messaging about health risks in homes, schools and childcare centers. • Objective: Increased amount, coordination and effectiveness of communication tells Americans that radon is a serious risk that needs to be a priority for action.

27. National Radon Action Plan Core Components • #4: Provide Incentives and Support for Radon Risk Reduction • Strategy 4.4: Promote radon awareness to medical, public health and childcare communities through consistent outreach using targeted materials. • Objective: Medical, public health and childcare practitioners educate patients and families about radon during routine encounters and increase their actions to reduce radon in home and childcare environments.

28. Strategy 4.4 Update • Shared information with 16 medical and public health organizations to invite them to sign on to the NRAP. • Identifying ways to reach their members, e.g. coverage in their member newsletters, editorials in their journals. • Spoke to Lung-CAN member organizations inviting them to sign on to the NRAP. • APHA annual meeting: several radon sessions • Physicians Guide