National Radon Meeting San Diego CA 2014 Radon

. National Radon Meeting San Diego, CA 2014

Radon in the States • 34 states have enacted statutes addressing radon. • 29 states require disclosure of radon hazards upon sale of a house; • 25 require radon inspectors and/or mitigators be licensed. • 9 states require new construction be radonresistant, and another 23 have local codes mandating radon resistant new construction. • In 27 states, radon is part of their building code. 2014

Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act for the 21 st Century • Amends and updates TSCA – Sections 4, 5, 6, and 8 • Signed by the President and went into effect June 22, 2016 • Overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress 2014

How Radon is not like Lead in Flint • MI Gov took active role in governing city • Appt City Manager forced switch to Flint River – Failed to negotiated with Detroit Water • No MI Dept of Public Health; No Health Professionals involved in decisions – Mainly business/accountants – Genessee Cty Health Department first to act • Estimated cost to State - $1 billion – MI Lead Program received over $100 m from State 2014

Positives about Radon • There is no one to blame – Radon not manufactured for homes • Mitigation is relatively inexpensive • Mitigation and Inspections support small business • It saves an identifiable number of lives – We know the faces of the victims 2014

Home Safety Council Risks 25 000 . 21 000 20 000 15 800 15 000 10 000 4 800 5 000 3 300 1 000 0 Radon Falls Poisoning Fires Choking 800 2014 Drowning

Radon Control • • 60 Bills in 21 States 8 on Disclosure 4 on RRNC 9 bills on Radon in Schools 2014

Radon Disclosure • 8 Bills in CO, CT, IL, IA, MO and TN • IL H 4528 – Landlord Disclosure to Renters • IA H 371 (Act No. 20) - Relates to allowable disclosures of radon testing results • TN H 2274/S 2317 - Relates to Real Property, requires, with certain exceptions, a seller of residential real property to disclose in writing to the buyer of the property information relating to radon concentrations in the dwelling. 2014

Radon-Resistant New Construction • 4 Bills in IA, IL, NE and NY • IA S 399, H 418 - radon control in new residential construction • IL H 5375 – Amends RRNC • NE L 28 – Adopts RRNC • NY S 1333 - Requires the state fire prevention and building code council to implement rules and regulations requiring the use of radon-resistant features in new home construction. 2014

Radon in Schools • 9 Bills in NJ, NY, PA and VT • NJ A 3508/S 759 - Requires development and implementation of mitigation plans for radon contamination in child care centers • NY A 946 - approval of new, leased or remodeled school buildings with respect to health and safety • NY A 5450/S 2552 - Radon Testing in Public and Private Schools • NY A 2419/S 6018 - Notification to students, parents and employees of environmental health and safety hazards within school facilities • PA H 417 - Radon Reports and Tests in Schools • VT S 197 - Radon Testing in Schools 2014

Enacted Radon Legislation • CO H 1141 – Radon Exposure in Building – Provides a number of protections to the citizens from the hazards associated with naturally occurring radioactive materials in buildings • IL H 2823 (Act No. 59) - Amends the Radon Industry Licensing Act • IA H 371 (Act No. 20) - may disclose the results of radon testing to a potential buyer of a nonpublic building • KY H 272 (Act No. 28) - Exempts a residential building contractor installing vent pipes during construction of a commercial building or home from radon mitigation certification requirements 2014

Enacted Radon Legislation • NH H 498 (Act No. 2015 -171) – Radon Notification – Revises the radon notice required prior to the sale of real property • PA HR 643 - Recognizes the month of January 2016 as "Radon Awareness Month". 2014

The Importance of Radon for State Legislators It kills people It is easily identified and fixed It does not have to cost the state budget It fact, it can ease the Medicaid budget by fewer cases of lung cancer • It supports small businesses and workers • It is bipartisan; it promotes business and public health • • 2014

Questions or Comments? Doug Farquhar, J. D. Program Director for Environmental Health National Conference of State Legislatures Doug. farquhar@ncsl. org 303 -856 -1397 2014