Contributed by Cynthia Stephenson
The annual Radon Stakeholders meeting was held on October 27, 2016 at the Traditions on the Glen, in Johnson City, New York. There were 65 stakeholders in attendance and included:
• county health departments;
• home inspectors;
• radon testers and mitigators;
• the Southern Tier Association of Home Inspectors; and
• elected official Clifford Crouch of Assembly District 122.
Senator Fred Akshar of the 52nd District and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, District 123, and Chair for the New York State Clear Air Committee, joined the meeting during a working lunch with stakeholders to answer questions about the legislative process and to gather information on radon. Their presence at the annual meeting was focused on fact finding and education about the health effects and risk from long term exposure to elevated levels of radon in the home. Radon is present at elevated levels in about 37 percent of the basements in New York State homes.
One of the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) focus areas is to encourage new residential homes be built radon resistant. The program is called Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC). The NYS Department of Health’s Radon Program currently offers one short term radon test kit for newly constructed homes within one year of occupancy. RRNC is currently an optional program in the International Building Code and cities and towns are encouraged to adopt this at the local level.
This years speakers presented on:
- Reducing Radon Related Lung Cancer Mortality;
- the National Radon Action Plan (NRAP);
- New York State Geology;
- Test Methods and Certification Requirements;
- Radon Measurements; and
- difficult mitigations.
Peter Hendrick of American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) provided updates and discussed legislation for New York State. Department of Health staff provided updates on the radon program and the Healthy Neighborhoods project, both of which are grant deliverable items under the State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) administered by the US EPA. Larainne Koehler, EPA Region II, provided updates.
We received positive feedback on this years meeting. We are hopeful that momentum will continue and those in attendance will push for the drafting of legislation to regulate radon testing and mitigation in New York State.
For more information, contact:
Cynthia Stephenson
Health Program Administrator
Radon Program
NYSDOH
518-402-7556
United States