ALA Shares New Radon Resources for Working with Cancer Coalitions

The American Lung Association shares two new resources in support of the National Radon Action Plan objective of getting more and better radon risk reduction strategies integrated into state cancer plans. A new backgrounder Working with Cancer Control Coalitions to Address Radon is aimed at radon advocates and decisionmakers, and the companion ⁠Incorporating Evidence-based Interventions for Radon in Cancer Control Plans provides a menu of recommended strategies. Both of these resources can be found in the Radon Resources for Professionals section of Lung.org/radon.

HUD Awards $6 Million to Improve the Safety and Health of Homes of Low- Income Families

(HUD) awarded nearly $6 million to public housing agencies and a state housing authority to protect children and families from housing-related hazards, including radon exposure. HUD is awarding 10 grants to public housing agencies under its Radon Testing and Mitigation Demonstration grant program. The agencies will test public housing units and mitigate identified elevated radon levels. This investment will protect over 6,500 people in low-income families, including children, from cancer risks caused by radon exposure. HUD is also awarding a grant to improve the energy efficiency of 60 homes under its Healthy Homes and Weatherization Coordination Demonstration grant program, being weatherized under the grantee’s Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program. See how agencies will use funding. Read HUD’s Press Release

Addressing Radon in the Environmental Review Process; Request for Comment

HUD has posted CPD-21-136, titled, Departmental Policy for Addressing Radon in the Environmental Review Process, on its website. HUD invites public comments from interested individuals, entities, and other parties on that Notice's proposed clarification that radon as a radioactive substance must be considered in the environmental review of proposed HUD-assisted projects. Comments are due on or before: April 14, 2023.

FY 2022 Radon Testing and Mitigation Demonstration for Public Housing NOFO

The purpose of this NOFO is to provide funds to public housing agencies (PHAs) to conduct testing and as-needed mitigation of radon in the units that they manage and where applicable, to support the development of a plan for future testing and mitigation. The work supported through this NOFO will also provide HUD with important information on methods and costs for radon testing and mitigation in public housing. HUD expects to make approximately 15 awards from the funds available under this NOFO.

Establishing and Running a Local Home Repair Program: A Technical Assistance Tool

NCHH created this technical assistance brief to support local and state governments, agencies, programs, and advocates in understanding how local home repair programs can address healthy housing issues and the options for building such a program to serve community needs.

In some localities, radon mitigation is an eligible expense, while in other communities, local advocacy could make it one. Click here to read Establishing and Running a Local Home Repair Program: A Technical Assistance Tool.

HUD Awards $4 Million to Public Housing Agencies to Protect Families from Potential Exposures to Radon

(HUD) awarded $4 million to nine public housing agencies (PHAs) to conduct radon testing and, as needed, radon mitigation in approximately 1,000 housing units. Where applicable, the funding will also support the development of PHAs’ plans for future testing and mitigation. See how agencies will use funding. Read HUD’s Press Release.

HUD Announces $4 Million Radon Testing Notice of Funding Opportunity

(HUD) is making available $4 million through HUD’s new Radon Testing and Mitigation Demonstration Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for public housing agencies. PHAs will use the funds in public housing properties where low-income families reside. With this funding, PHAs will be able to conduct testing and, when needed, mitigation of radon in the public housing units that they manage. Read HUD’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Habitat for Humanity to Update Construction Standards

Habitat for Humanity will have the benefit of expert advice on radon mitigation and radon resistant new construction as they update their US Construction Standards and other documents.  AARST member David P. Kapturowski has agreed to serve as an on-call expert to assist them in their upcoming 7-month process. This opportunity came after representatives from the National Center for Healthy Housing and the American Lung Association reached out to Habitat as part of the targets under the NRAP to provide incentives and support for radon risk reduction in low-income communities.

PA to Test 200 Homes in Low Income Communities

The Minority Low Income Operation Viable Economic Solutions (MOVeS) for Radon Environmental Justice (EJ) Lung Cancer Reduction is a Pennsylvania AARST Chapter project sponsored by the PA Department of Health Cancer Coalition and PA Department of Environmental Protection and funded by CDC grant. Scheduled to start October 2018, MOVeS will test 200 homes in low income communities per EPA/PA DEP radon testing protocols with state licensed radon testers and mitigate any/all homes with elevated radon levels. This project was also made possible with contributions from the following organizations: AARST Foundation, Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc., CR3, CanSAR, Mid-Atlantic ALA, EPA R3, FL DOH Radon Program and PA DEP Radon Program. View the 2018 CR3 News EJ Edition for more information.

Connecticut Establishes New Healthy Homes Fund

In June 2018, Connecticut enacted a law (P.A. 18-160) establishing a Healthy Homes Fund, which will be used by the state Department of Housing to fund a program “to reduce health and safety hazards in residential dwellings in Connecticut, including, but not limited to, lead, radon and other contaminants or conditions, through removal, remediation, abatement and other appropriate methods.” The Healthy Homes Fund will be funded with remittances from a new surcharge on homeowner’s insurance policies, established in the same legislation, which will take effect on January 1, 2019. (Thanks to ELI for this Recent Development in IAQ.)

HUD Funds New Study for Testing Multi-family Housing

HUD has awarded Health Research, Inc. /New York State Dept. of Health $435,000 to investigate an effective sampling strategy for radon testing in multi-family housings. The researchers will obtain and analyze over 7,000 results of completed radon measurements from 100% of ground-floor units in over 500 multifamily buildings. The data are from radon professionals located in several states. Statistical analysis of the radon measurement data will be conducted to ascertain the minimum number of measurements needed to adequately assess the radon risk at a particular (e.g., 90%) confidence limit, and calculate and compare the increased health (lung cancer) risks to occupants associated with partial (e.g., 10%; 25%) and complete (100%) testing of multifamily units.

NRAP Meetings Include Discussion on Federal Grant Opportunities

NRAP Team hosted grant experts from HUD’s CDBG program and HHS Grants Division at the face-to-face meetings to explore ways to access public funds for radon testing and mitigation efforts. For information on federal grant opportunities, visit Grants.gov.