by Margaret Henderson
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality Indoor Radon Program provides extensive information for home buyers on its website under the section “Radon Testing – Real Estate.” See http://deq.mt.gov/Energy/radon In Montana, the average for indoor air is 5.9 pCi/L, above the 4 pCi/L recommended action level. Levels of test results for Montana Counties are shown at http://mt-radon.info/MT_counties.html.
Along with the basic information about radon given in the other sections of the website, the Real Estate section focuses on information buyers would need. Montana Radon Disclosure Regulation. MCA 75-3-606 requires “A radon disclosure statement must be provided on at least one document, form, or application executed prior to or contemporaneously with an offer for the purchase and sale of inhabitable real property.” To assist with the understanding of radon, the Program addresses topics such as:
· What information is available regarding radon and real estate transactions?
· I'm buying a house. Should I have it tested for radon?
· I'm selling a house. Should I have it tested for radon?
· Can vacant houses be tested for radon?
· The seller of the house I want to buy disclosed a radon level of 2. Should this be a deterrent to buying?
If radon levels are found to be high, buyers are given information on mitigation, such as:
· What is a radon mitigation system?
· What are the benefits of radon mitigation?
· What can be done to reduce radon in a home?
· How much does it cost to reduce radon in an existing home?
· Who should I hire to correct a radon problem?
· Will any more testing be needed after a radon mitigation system has been installed?
· Are funds available to reduce high radon levels in rental housing?
The site also gives information on finding a radon service provider and locating health departments where discounted test kits may be available.
For more information, contact:
John Podolinsky and Paul Tschida
800-546-0483
MT Department of Environmental Quality
PO Box 20091
Helena, MT 59620
United States