Technical Assistance to States for Radon Programs

To deal with the issues presented by the GAO, Congress amended 305 of TSCA. The amendment required the EPA to conduct research to develop, test, and evaluate radon and radon progeny measurement methods and protocols, and to study the feasibility of establishing a mandatory proficiency program, which would include the recommendations of the GAO report. Congress also required EPA to establish additional user fees to fund the research of measurement methods and protocols for the fiscal years 1991, 1992,1993, 1994, and 1995.56 

United States General Accounting Office, Report to the Chainnan, Comm, on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, Air Pollution Uncertainty Exists in Radon Measurements, GAO/RCED-90-25,1 (Oct. 1989). 

Improvements Needed in the Environmental Protection Agency s Testing Programs for Radon Testimony Hearing Before the H. Subcomm. on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research, and Environment, Comm, on Science, Space and Technology, GAO/T-RCED-90-54, 1 (May, 16, 1990) (Statement for the Record by Richard L. Hembra, Director, Environmental Protection Issues Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, EPA). 

The study, with EPA s recommendations, was due to Congress by Mar. 1, 1991. 15 U.S.C. 2665(d)(6). That report was never concluded. Telephone interview with Phihp Jalbert, Radon Team Leader, EPA Indoor Environment Division (Sept. 19, 2008) [hereinafter Jalbert Interview]. 

EPA began to publicly explore privatizing the RMP in a public workshop in May 1996. The Agency reasoned that since the implementation of the RMP a decade before (i) the radon services industry had matured sufficiently to make direct EPA involvement in proficiency determinations no longer necessary, (ii) approximately half the states had stronger radon public health and consumer protection activities, and (iii) the private sector might be able to operate the program cost effectively. After a public stakeholder process, 

---

Model construction standards and techniques. Technical assistance to States for radon programs. 

---