Final Federal Radon Action Plan Scorecard

Status

Commitment

Final Outcome

USDA will develop working agreements with nonprofits that can assist 504 home repair grantees and loan recipients in funding mitigation efforts whenever radon is found at or above the EPA 4 pCi/L action level.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

USDA will educate Rural Housing Grantee Program lenders and State Housing Finance Authorities about radon risks and encourage the testing of existing homes in Zone 1 and 2 areas.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

USDA will leverage financing through renovation/repair programs and essential community programs to test and mitigate radon in schools and daycare facilities.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

USDA will collaborate with the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) to focus their testing efforts on new and existing Rural Housing financed properties.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

USDA will educate multifamily housing developers about radon risks and what construction mitigation strategies can be used when radon is found.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

USDA will promote radon testing and mitigation through Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Programs.

The Unnumbered Letter signed by Tammy Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service dated June 19, 2012,(PDF)(June 19, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/-008, About PDF) was distributed across USDA programs to increase radon awareness, importance of testing, and look at potential funding opportunities.

DOD will review and update, as appropriate, the Unified Facility Criteria to reflect current standards for radon measurement, mitigation and radon-resistant new construction for low rise buildings, e.g.

• Multifamily
• Schools
• Daycare facilities

DoD reviewed the existing Unified Facility Criteria and determined that no changes are required:

• Child Care Centers UFC 4-740-14 (PDF)(152 pp, 1.3 MB, About PDF), criteria detailed in paragraph 2-19.2 on pp 2-22
• Family Housing UFC 4-711-01 (PDF)(52 pp, 389 K, About PDF), criteria included in paragraph 7-1.6 on pp 27
• Sustainable Developments UFC 4-030-01 (archived), criteria included in paragraph C-6.3 on pp 73

DOD will develop a communications campaign to educate all personnel - living both on and off base - about the health risks associated with radon exposure and solutions to address these risks

The Air Force office of Family Housing Management provides residents with a copy of “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon, the Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon” (USEPA). Residents also can access installation summary radon testing results (reference AFI 32-6001). Office of the Secretary of Defense is consulting with the Army and Navy to assess the feasibility of implementing the Air Force’s practice of distributing the EPA radon guide as part of a department-wide commitment to expand communications on radon.

DOD will identify the universe of low-rise buildings in high radon potential areas (Zone 1) and for those buildings not previously addressed, develop a testing and mitigation plan for those at or above the EPA 4 pCi/L action level.

The Military Services have issued policies and procedures for testing and mitigation, and have completed most of, or all of, the planned testing:

• The Army inventoried and tested low rise buildings in high radon potential areas (EPA Zone 1) and included passive radon mitigation systems in homes built or fully renovated under civilian partnership agreements at installations where radon is known to exist. Testing of Priority 1 facilities (i.e., day care centers, hospitals, schools, and family housing) did not identify any exceedances of the 4.0 pCi/L (150 Bq/m³) action level. Army policy and procedures specify testing and mitigation for new/renovated buildings, and the retesting of existing buildings. Visit Army’s radon program. 
• In 2015, the Navy developed a radon implementation guidebook to facilitate radon testing and mitigation at installations, as required by the Navy’s OPNAV Instructions M-5090.1 of January 10, 2014, and MCO P5090.2A of August 26, 2013 (http://www.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/specialty_centers/exwc/products_and_services/ev/erb/gpr.html). Using historical radon test results data (through May 2015), each installation was assigned an initial Radon Potential Category (RPC) to guide the timing and funding of future testing and mitigation actions. As test results become available, the RPCs in Appendix B of the radon implementation guidebook are updated.
• The Air Force initiated a Radon Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP) in 1987 to test and remediate radon; records are maintained at the installation-level. An effort to retrieve and centralize these installation records for improved management and access is underway. In the US, 22 Air Force bases located in EPA Zone 1 with non-privatized housing, childcare development centers and DOD Educational Activity Schools have completed radon testing for most or all of these types of structures. The eight bases with remaining structures are scheduled to complete testing in 2016. Visit the Air Force Manual addressing radon (updated in July 2020).

DOE will finish the radon study as part of the National Evaluation to determine whether the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) impacts radon levels in homes.

On September 16, 2015, the Energy Department announced the results of a National Evaluation of the Weatherization Assistance Program. For more information, please visit Weatherization Assistance  Program National Evaluation.

DOE will test various remediation protocols to determine what level of effort is required when radon is discovered in a home or when the level rises after WAP services are delivered.

On September 16, 2015, the Energy Department announced the results of a National Evaluation of the Weatherization Assistance Program. For more information, please visit Weatherization Assistance Program National Evaluation.

DOE will add a healthy homes curriculum to WAP training requirements that include radon identification and remediation protocols.

Radon addressed in WAP Health and Safety Training Resources.

DOE will include training, described above, as part of DOE's routine health and safety training such that every worker in the WAP network will be trained over the next 2 years.

Radon was addressed at different Weatherization Plus Health National and Regional Conferences. For more information, visit the Weatherization Assistance Program. 

DOE and HUD will promote radon awareness through their weatherization and healthy homes outreach.

Radon incorporated in DOE Standard Work Specifications for Single-Family Home Energy Upgrades (March 2013).

Radon incorporated in HUD's revised Healthy Homes Programs Guidance Manual (July 2012)

EPA will invest in new standards of practice for:

• School measurement and mitigation
• Multifamily mitigation
• Quality assurance

EPA has invested and established committees for the four standards. Please follow the links for more information on each standard:

• Multifamily Buildings Mitigation
• Schools-Large Buildings Measurement
• Schools-Large Buildings Mitigation
• Device Protocols

EPA and Treasury will work together to facilitate the deductibility of radon testing and mitigation costs within Health Care Savings Accounts (HSAs).

The IRS has thanked EPA for its insight in providing a number of helpful items in understanding the health-related effects of radon. In drafting proposed regulations, IRS attorneys will use information obtained from the EPA in analyzing medical expense issues under §213. EPA provided the IRS with radon related information in an initial letter and in a reply to the IRS.

• EPA FSA Request - December 13, 2012 (pdf)(December 13, 2012, EPA 402/F-12/007)
  Information letter request from Administrator McCarthy to IRS Chief Counsel Wilkins to include the deductibility of radon testing and mitigation costs within Health Care Savings Accounts (HSAs).
• EPA FSA Reply - April 30, 2013 (pdf)(April 30, 2013, EPA 402/F-13/054)
  Letter from Administrator McCarthy to IRS Associate Chief Counsel Keyso thanking IRS for their reply to letter sent to IRS in December 2012 on the tax treatment of expenses for reducing exposure to radon.

EPA does not know when proposed regulations will be published in the Federal Register for public comment, but the public will be notified and have ample opportunity to comment. The status of this effort will be tracked and updated within the public-private NRAP partnership framework (Strategy 2).

GSA will promote professional radon services to federal tenants.

The GSA Public Buildings Service (PBS), developed Radon Policy Directive 5940.2 PBS P that informs building occupants about how GSA minimizes radon exposures through:

• Testing for radon according to EPA's guidelines;
• Mitigating and retesting if action levels are exceeded;
• Providing alternate water supplies and air sources when action levels are exceeded; and
• Notifying occupants of testing results.

GSA will explore testing for radon and mitigating high levels in childcare facilities through the Federal Real Property Program.

GSA has completed testing in all 102 of its childcare centers in accordance with EPA recommendations. The test results are included in this report (PDF); no childcare facility exceeded the EPA action level.

• General Services Administration Childcare Radon Results in the Federal Radon Action Plan

HHS will work to increase radon awareness among states participating in the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

Implemented radon awareness in the following states:

• The Vermont Dept. of Health CCCP:
  • Developed resources for Preventing Future Cancers 
• The Utah Dept. of Health CCCP:
  • Partnered with the UT Radon program to help support the recent Region 8 Radon conference
  • Added radon policy issues to its recent policy action plan. 
• The Minnesota Dept. of Health CCCP partnered with the MN Radon program to better address radon issues in the state.
  • Highlighted radon in its 2011 Lung and Bronchus cancer report
  • Presented at the 2011 MN Cancer Alliance meeting by the radon group (Breakout session C mid-page).

HHS and EPA will explore including radon in environmental health tracking.

The white paper was prepared by members of the Radon Task Force of CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (EPHTP). The white paper investigated the merits (opportunity, cost and value) of developing public health indicators associated with residential exposure to naturally occurring radon gas. To find out more about the current status of radon monitoring and data collection in the U.S. and the suitability of these data for inclusion in the EPHTN, please visit: Radon Task Force.

HHS will update the current Toxicological Profile for Radon.

The Toxicological Profile for Radon (PDF)(283 pp, 3.4 MB, About PDF) has been completed.

HUD will incorporate radon testing and mitigation into as many agency programs as possible to include public and other assisted housing.

HUD wrote new radon testing and mitigation requirements for participants in a significant portion of HUD's multifamily housing mortgage insurance programs, and if program activity in 2013 is similar to that in 2012, the new requirements will be applicable to an estimated 105,000 housing units in 2013. HUD Office of Multifamily Development Radon Policy (PDF)

HUD's PowerSaver Loan Program will make radon mitigation an explicitly eligible/allowable expense within the 25% non-energy related set-aside.

Statement on Radon Mitigation As An Eligible PowerSaver Home Improvement Measure (PDF)(1 pp, 275 K, About PDF)

HUD's Healthy Homes Production Program grantees will check for sources of radiation, such as from radon, as required by HUD's Healthy Homes Rating Tool. Mitigation is required for high radon levels.

Radon inclusion in HUD Healthy Homes Rating System(172 pp, 1.4 MB, About PDF)

DOI will send a message on the hazards of radon to approximately 70,000 employees.

Agency-wide memo sent June and November 2011

DOI, through the National Park Service, will test approximately 5,000 residential units for radon.

DOI's National Park Service has performed sampling and analysis at 3223 residential units and is presently engaged in follow up testing. Approximately 2.5 percent of locations have been recommended for mitigation; planning is underway for implementation of mitigation activities. Approximately five percent of locations are being retested to verify the need, or the absence of need, to mitigate.

DOI, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will test approximately 3,500 residential units and 500 schools and will work with Tribes to increase awareness of radon risk.

Due to funding constraints, target completion date moved to June 2020. BIA developed a multi-year infrastructure/ maintenance plan; to test approximately 3,500 units and 500 schools. The remaining 70% of units will be completed by 2020. The status of this effort will be tracked and updated within the public-private NRAP partnership framework (Strategy 1).

VA will promote radon testing and mitigation through a comprehensive disclosure of the radon health risk to borrowers.

The VA includes radon information on its Home Loans websitewith a link to EPA’s Radon and healthy homes program. For all VA properties, radon information is included in disclosure and Notice of Value (NOV) documents automatically generated by its secure loan processing system.

VA will explore providing a radon mitigation cost set-aside through its Home Loan Guarantee Program.

VA has carefully examined and considered this commitment over the duration of the FRAP effort. However, VA has determined action to be infeasible within the current budget environment and circumstances. VA will continue working with key stakeholders to incorporate radon risk reduction in its programs, including new construction programs and Minimum Property Requirements (MPR). The status of these continuing efforts will be tracked and updated within the public-private NRAP partnership framework (Strategy 1).