H-2344              _______________________________________________

                                           SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 894

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representative D. Nelson)

Read first time 3/8/85 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to possible radon exposure; adding a new section to  chapter 70.54 RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds that certain buildings in the state may contain high radon concentrations that may have adverse health impacts on occupants which can be mitigated by building measures such as ground-to-structure barriers and ventilation systems.

          (2) By January 1, 1986, each department of labor and industries field office shall acquire radon detectors for use in measuring the concentration of radon in buildings.  The detectors may be purchased at cost by builders and building occupants.  The departmental field offices shall provide instructions for use and how to obtain detector readings.  When detectors indicate a high radon concentration, the departmental field office shall provide advice on mitigating measures upon request.

          (3) "High radon concentration" means any location where the concentration of radon inside a building exceeds or would exceed without mitigating measures eight picocuries per liter of air.

          (4) The state energy office shall provide assistance to departmental field offices in carrying out the provisions of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of forty-nine thousand nine hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the state energy office for the purposes of this act.  In the event federal or other moneys are obtained for the same purpose, the corresponding amount shall be returned to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.