EPA Announces Federal Radon Action Plan

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the development of a Federal Radon Action Plan (Plan) on June 20, 2011.  Radon causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. every year.  

This initial Plan was developed by the EPA in a working group that also included the General Services Administration and the Departments of Agriculture; Defense; Energy; Health and Human Services; Housing and Urban Development; Interior; and Veterans Affairs.  These agencies will help focus efforts on radon reduction and mitigation in homes, schools and daycare facilities, as well as radon-resistant new construction. Over this next year, these federal agencies will develop new policies and regulations to implement the Plan. 

The Plan includes three stated goals which have the potential to effect costs to businesses and government: 

·         Incorporating radon testing and mitigation into federal programs.

·         Investing in new standards and updating codes for measurement and mitigation in schools, daycare facilities, and multi-family housing.

·         Establishing incentives that drive testing and mitigation in the private and public sectors. 

EPA touts that the Plan will help spur greater action in the marketplace, create jobs in the private sector, and significantly reduce exposure to radon.  The EPA has estimated that this effort will impact 7.5 million homes, schools and daycare facilities. 

This article was authored by William Chambers, Acacia Environmental Group LLC. For more information on the author see here.