HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2662

BYRepresentatives D. Sommers, Rust, Fuhrman, Valle, Padden, Walker, Phillips, Pruitt, Van Luven, G. Fisher, Brekke, Schoon and Rector

Implementing radon programs.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; G. Fisher, Fraser, Phillips, Schoon, Sprenkle and Walker.

House Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7114)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is emitted by the radioactive decay of uranium in rocks and soils.  Radon may seep into buildings through cracks in foundations, sump pumps, areas around drainage pipes, and other openings.  Radon decay products attach themselves to dust particles, walls, furniture, and clothing, and lodge in the lungs when inhaled.

There are no federal or state regulations governing radon exposure. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends remedial action when at least four picocuries per liter of radon are found in a home.  According to the EPA, between four million and eight million homes in the United States have radon levels above four picocuries/liter.  The EPA estimates that this level of exposure is equivalent to smoking eight cigarettes a day or having 200 chest x-rays a year.

Radon exposure in buildings can be reduced by increasing ventilation, sealing openings where it may be entering buildings, covering exposed earth with concrete or a gas-proof liner, covering sumps, placing removable plugs in untrapped floor drains, or installing soil ventilation devices.

Since uranium is not distributed evenly, radon problems are concentrated in certain areas of the country.  According to the Department of Health, northeastern Washington has a potential for higher levels of indoor radon than other areas of the state because of naturally occurring uranium in the soil and rocks.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Health (department) is authorized to develop a program informing the public about the origin and health effects of radon, how to measure radon, and construction and mitigation techniques to reduce exposure to radon.

The department is authorized to develop a program to certify private companies testing for radon.  In developing the program, the department is required to consider existing federal certification programs.  The department may charge radon testing companies fees, not to exceed $100, to pay for the certification program. Persons testing for radon in their own homes, in schools, or in state-owned buildings are not required to be certified.  Builders using construction practices designed to prevent or reduce radon levels are also exempt from the certification requirement.

The department must develop a program to identify radon levels in public schools, kindergarten through grade 12, in areas identified as having high levels of radon. Schools with high levels of radon must develop and implement mitigation plans.  The department must develop a grant program to fund schools for the cost of preparing and implementing radon mitigation plans.  The department, in conjunction with the superintendent of public instruction, must report to the Legislature by December, 1990, on the extent of radon problems in public schools and the cost of remedying those problems.  The department must establish a numeric standard defining acceptable levels in public schools.  This standard cannot exceed four picocuries/liter .

The state building code council must establish a construction code for radon.  The code may be promulgated as a state-wide rule or as a model local ordinance.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  In addition to the certification exemptions in the original bill, the substitute exempts persons collecting radon samples in schools or state-owned buildings from the certification requirement.  The substitute authorizes the department to assess a certification fee of up to $100; the original bill allowed fees of up to $900.

The substitute requires the Department of Health to:  1) develop a grant program for schools mitigating for radon, 2) report to the Legislature, by December 1990, on the extent and cost of radon problems in schools , and 3) define an acceptable level of radon in schools, not to exceed four picocuries/liter.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 1, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Silva Riddle, Cavalier Engineering; Willy O'Neil, State Building Code Council; and Mike Roberts, Supervisor, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Erick Slagle, Department of Health, Environmental Programs; and Bob Mooney, Department of Health.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Persons collecting samples in public schools should not be required to be certified because this activity is relatively simple.  The department's certification program should be based on the EPA's existing certification program; this would save time and money for both the state and private radon testing companies.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The bill is unnecessary because the Department of Health has already received federal funds to perform the functions required in the bill.