The 3rd Annual US EPA Region 7 Radon Stakeholders' Meeting was held on March 4, 2009 in Overland Park, KS. Each year the meeting provides an opportunity for US EPA Region 7 and its partners; the Iowa Department of Public Health, Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, and AARST to bring together interested stakeholders to discuss common issues, provide insight into the future, understand issues from other perspectives, share, educate, and network.
The materials from this meeting are available in the Resource Bank.
At the meeting this year, for the first time, radon leaders were recognized by US EPA Region 7 and the state programs in the Region. Each state program nominated a radon leader, and wrote a justification for this special recognition. You can read about why each award winner is being recognized below.
Nebraska: Becky Versch
Before someone can mitigate a home, they must test. And before someone tests, they must be educated. This initial step is for many people the introduction to an issue that is both complex and extremely important. It is also crucial in that it can impact the future steps a homeowner takes.
At the Nebraska Radon Program, we realize that local partners are essential in providing quality radon education to homeowners. Local partners not only expand our resource base, but also provide a trusted source for the information we want to get out. One of the most dedicated radon educators in Nebraska is Becky Versch, of the Washington County extension office within the University of Nebraska system.
Since taking the initial radon measurement and mitigation training courses in 2000, Becky has educated thousands of people across the state about radon issues. This education has taken place through classroom instruction, phone calls, and a document that she co-authored called “Radon In Nebraska Homes“; a Neb Guide for the University of Nebraska (Goo-1404-A, revised October 2003). She has provided technical assistance to other county extension offices; and traveled across the state to give presentations when asked.
In addition to educating the general public, Becky has also focused on the high-priority areas of real estate transactions and Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC). Extensive work in realtor education began for Becky in 2004 when she assisted in developing a web-based continuing education course accepted by the NE Realtors Association (NRA) for credit. Realtor education continued with a classroom based radon education course which was also given approval for continuing education credits with the NRA. Through a series of contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services during 2005 - 2007, Becky assisted in developing the course and educating hundreds of professionals in the real estate industry.
Becky’s RRNC work has included educating builders and promoting RRNC in her area, as well as a demonstration project in 2003-2004. This project utilized a Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) mini-grant to encourage Nebraska builders to construct homes with radon resistant features, use the homes as training sites, provide incentives for their efforts, and recognize those who have participated.
In her efforts, Becky has at times worked with financial support from the state or national level, at times as part of her work with the county extension office, and at times with no additional support, on her own time and using her own resources. She is an excellent teacher with extensive knowledge and goes above and beyond for her programs. A colleague of hers at the University of Nebraska has called her “a true team player”, and at the Nebraska Radon Program we see in her a valuable asset to our radon community.
Her passion and dedication to radon education are at the highest level, and for all of these reasons we recognize her as a Radon Leader.
Missouri: Traci Lewis
Traci Lewis was selected from among nine nominees for the Missouri Radon Hero award. Traci teaches art to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Savannah Middle School in Savannah, Missouri.
As part of National Radon Action Month, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) participated in the National Radon Poster Contest. Letters and brochures were sent to more than 400 middle schools around the state. In response, 109 posters were submitted to us for judging. A panel of judges reviewed the posters, not knowing where they were from, since all identifying information was located on the back of the posters. When all the votes were tabulated, we were amazed to find that our first, second, and third place winners had all been submitted by the same teacher.
Some of our radon poster contest entries are submitted by science classes that have incorporated radon into their curriculum. Others are submitted by art classes, such as those of Ms. Lewis. Because these posters are used as educational tools in a national campaign to raise awareness about radon, the factual content of the posters is as important as the quality of the artwork. The fact that all three winning posters were submitted by Ms. Lewis’ classes demonstrates that she took extra effort to educate her students on radon so that their posters were not only attractive, but educational.
We appreciate Traci and her dedication to her students, and for going the extra mile to educate herself and her students on radon. For that reason, the radon/indoor air staff of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services voted Ms. Traci Lewis as a Missouri Radon Hero.
Kansas: Jim Barnett
During the Kansas legislative session of 2008, radon legislation was successfully passed which requires information on radon to be included on all residential real estate contracts. On the contracts, all homebuyers in Kansas will be provided information that includes a radon warning statement, a recommendation to have the home tested for radon, and a website link to the Kansas Radon Program for more information. We believe that this action will result in a greatly increased number of homes being tested during residential real estate transactions in Kansas.
This legislation was the result of one courageous woman, a never-smoker who contracted lung cancer and subsequently passed away from that disease, and the man who learned of her story, researched the issue of radon, and made the legislation a reality.
This man is Jim Barnett, a physician from Emporia Kansas and a member of the Kansas Senate. In 2007, Senator Barnett came to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with the desire to pass legislation addressing radon in Kansas. He was instrumental in the design of the original bill. He put his name on the bill and introduced it with a press release. By dedicating his time and effort to the negotiations, Senator Barnett was able to see his radon bill pass the Kansas Senate. Through use of his political influence, Senator Barnett was able to save the radon bill when it was tabled by the Kansas House. He successfully attached it to another bill and gained Senate approval once again. Senator Barnett’s radon bill passed both the Kansas House and the Senate and was signed by the Kansas Governor on May 18, 2008.
As a direct result of the actions taken by Senator Barnett to pass radon legislation, more homes will be tested for radon in Kansas. This will lead to more homes with elevated radon levels being mitigated. This will lead to less cases of radon-induced lung cancer in Kansas. We therefore recognize Senator Jim Barnett, as a Kansas Radon Hero.
Iowa: Aimee Devereaux
The Iowa Radon Program would like to introduce Aimee Devereaux as a special radon worker in the state of Iowa. Currently Aimee is the Environmental Health Specialist for O’Brien County. Prior to serving O’Brian County, she was the Environmental Health Supervisor for Pocahontas County. Aimee is NEHA registered as both an Environmental Health Specialist and a Healthy Homes Specialist. She began her public health career in NY State 10 years ago before coming to Iowa in 2000.
For the past 9 years, she has been a member of the Iowa AIR Coalition and has been very involved with radon education for constituents in both Iowa counties she has served. Aimee has been instrumental in assisting nearby counties in the Northwest Iowa Sanitarian group, with developing their own public health radon programs.
Aimee is an active member of the Iowa Environmental Health Association. She has held several positions with that organization and currently serves on the professional development committee.
One of the characteristics that make Aimee stand out is her willingness & ability to spread radon awareness beyond the traditional boundaries of her job responsibility. As one of her volunteer duties, Aimee maintains the Iowa Environmental Health Association website.
Through this website, she is able to provide radon information, updates on Iowa AIR Coalition activities, training opportunities, and notice of meetings, to Public Health Agencies statewide.
This may be the best, if not the only, radon communication for some public health workers in Iowa. Aimee has done a lot for advancing the cause of radon in Iowa, and we are very pleased to choose her for this honor.
United States