Connections
Information,
products, and assistance to help you move forward with your
radon project.
Sponsors
of Radon at Tahoe
In the interest of encouraging quality radon services at Tahoe and surrounding areas, Radon at Tahoe seeks to promote local radon service providers who meet local, state and national certification requirements, who have contractor's licenses in their state, and who have earned a reputation for quality work and fair prices. Local radon vendors wishing to become a Sponsor, please contact me with your radon qualifications: jeff@jeffminerconsulting.com
Caveat Emptor
While Radon at Tahoe feels these individuals are qualified radon specialists with certification and good work ethics, the customer is ultimately responsible for who they hire and for supervising the work that is performed. Radon At Tahoe offers this service to benefit all concerned, but can take no responsibility for the final outcome of the job or the business relationship between customer and vendor. And in radon, as in most contracting situations, a knowledgable customer is usually a good predictor of a satisfactory job. Customer comments are welcome and Caveat Emptor - "Let the buyer beware" - always applies.
That said, we are proud to have these radon service providers as sponsors.
Tell them Radon At Tahoe sent you.
Norm
Denny
Pinnacle Construction Consultants
Carson City, NV
Thomas
Dyck
Cal-Neva Home Inspections LLC
Incline Village, NV
Fred Ellrott
Camarillo, CA
Greg Enright
Enright Construction
Crowley Lake, CA
Jim Gorman
Environmental Inspections & Construction
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Jordan Heichman
Placerville, CA
Peter Mandel
MG Remediation, Inc.
Hayward, CA
Ned Riley
Tahoe Mold & Water
Tahoe City, CA
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Federal
Government
Environmental
Protection Agency
The EPA has a very complete radon web page for understanding
the general and scientific aspects of radon gas.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/
A Physician's Guide - Radon: The Health Threat with a Simple
Solution - 1993
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/physic.html
Radon
Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/faqs.htm
EPA
Map of Radon Zones
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/zonemap/
Radon
Specific Publications and Resources
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html#radon
Consumer's
Guide to Radon Reduction
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
Home
Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html
Proposed
Radon in Drinking Water Rule
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/radon/proposal.html
A
Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and
Your Family From Radon
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
National
Safety Council
Excellent web site with information about radon and how to fix
the problem
National
Radon Hotline:
(800) 767-7236
National Radon Helpline:
(800) 557-2366
National Radon Fix-It Line:
(800) 644-6999
http://www.nsc.org/issues/radon/index.htm
National
Radon Fix-It Program
http://www.nsc.org/issues/radon/fixit.htm
Conference
of Radiation Control Program Directors.
This is the site for all the state radon officials in the nation. Good insider information on radiation and radon
http://www.crcpd.org/
State
of Nevada
Adrian
Howe
Radiological Health Section
Department of Human Resources
Radon Program
4150 Technology Way 3rd Floor
Carson City, NV 89706
Phone: 775/687-7531
Fax: 775/687-5751
E-mail: ahowe@nvhd.state.nv.us
website:
RadonNV.com
Why
Do Real Estate Professionals Need to Know About Radon?
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
The Nevada Radon Program is now being managed by UNCE, and they are doing a great job of getting Northern Nevada excited about radon.
Susan H. Howe, Program Director
robertss@unce.unr.edu
Nevada Radon Education Program
NEW ADDRESS : 4955 Energy Way, Reno, NV 89502
tel 775.336.0248 I fax 775.784.4881
In-state toll-free Radon Hot line: 888-RADON-10 (888.723.6610)
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION I
www.RadonNV.com
State
of California
California Department of Public Health
ATTN: Willy Jenkins, Willy.Jenkins@cdph.ca.gov ;
(916) 449-5674; Fax (916) 449-5665
Indoor Radon Program, MS 7404
1616 Capitol Avenue, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 997377
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Website: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/Pages/Radon.aspx
The DPH radon web site is a
good source of radon information and links. It is also a good
source of certified radon testers and mitigaters in California.
California
Certified Radon Mitigators and Testers
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/Pages/RadonServiceProviders.aspx
Ron Churchill
California Geological Survey, Hazard and Mineral Resource Mapping
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/maps/Pages/Maps.aspx
916-327-0745
Ron developed the Tahoe Area Radon Map which should help planners adopt radon building plans and hazard reports based on the high radon levels of this region. The map is based on data from the 2007 Tahoe Radon Survey. It is available on their web site above.
Radon Certification Organizations
THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION National Radon Proficiency Program (NEHA- NRPP) - Certification programs for radon professionals
720 SOUTH COLORADO BLVD.
SOUTH TOWER, SUITE 970
DENVER, COLORADO 80246-1925
PHONE (303) 756-9090
FAX (303) 691-9490
EMAIL: STAFF@NEHA.ORG
http://www.neha-nrpp.org/
This is a list of NEHA -NRPP certified radon mitigators in California
http://www.radongas.org/mitigation_template/CA.shtml
Here is the list for Nevada
http://www.radongas.org/mitigation_template/NV.shtml
NATIONAL RADON SAFETY BOARD (NRSB)
P.O. BOX 703
ATHENS, TEXAS 75751
EMAIL: INFO@NRSB.ORG
PHONE: (866) 329-3474
FAX: (903) 675-3748
HTTP://WWW.NRSB.ORG/NRSB-S1.HTM
A Note on Radon Certification:
National organizations such as NEHA - NRPP and NRSB provide a program of study and testing to insure that candidates are sufficiently schooled in the current best methods of radon mitigation, and that they stay current by taking continuing education courses (and pay their dues!). Various states require that a contractor be certified by one of the national organizations to be listed that state's radon web site.
California is a Certification State. To be listed on the California Radon website and to be legal to perform "radon services" in California, one must be certified by one of those national organizations and must keep their license current. Always choose a California Certified radon mitigator for work to be done in California. There is a $1,000 fine to the radon contractor if he is not certified in California.
Nevada is a Non-Certification State. If you live in or near Nevada and are performing radon services in Nevada you may apply to be listed on the Nevada Radon Mitigators web site. It is always better to choose a certified individual in a Non-Certification State just because you know they at least took the classes and are practicing the EPA approved protocols for mitigating radon. In some states back East there is a problem of cheaply done and often ineffective or unsafe radon mitigation systems. Luckily at Tahoe we do not have that problem yet, but consumer awareness is the key to quality work. It's up to the buyer to demand the job be done right!
Radon Training Centers
Center for Environmental Research & Technology, Inc.
Colorado Springs Training Facility for NEHA Certification
http://www.certi.us/
El
Dorado County
Planning Departments
El
Dorado Co Environmental Management
Dave
Johnston, Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist,
Email: davej@co.el-dorado.ca.us
Phone: 530-621-5300
http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd/solidwaste/index.html Dave
has attended radon abatement training sessions in Washington
D.C. and he questioned the presenters on the confusing inverse
relationship between the level of radon in a county and the
number of cases of lung cancer in that same county. He has no
explanation on why counties with the highest radon levels have
the lowest incidents of lung cancer, while the counties with
the lowest radon levels have the highest incidence of lung cancer.
I have not seen the statistics but taking him at his word, my
guess might be that it could be partially explained by the long
wait period to get cancer from radon gas, mixed with a possible
high transiency rate in those counties. More research here would
be helpful.
Shane
Martin, R.E.H.S.
Senior Environmental Health Specialist
El Dorado County Environmental Management
3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd., #303
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: (530) 573-3454
Fax: (530) 542-3364
E-mail: shane.martin@co.el-dorado.ca.us
Shane
was helpful in sending me information on government web sites,
though no programs exist in his department to test for or abate
radon in El Dorado County.
El
Dorado County Planning Department
Placerville
Peter Maurer -
530-621-5355
Environmental Management Department
Tahoe Division Manager
530-573-3450
http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd/
http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us//emd/envhealth/
vhuber@co.el-dorado.ca.us
I
could find no radon programs under environmental health or hazardous
wastes for this county planning department, either at Lake Tahoe
or in Placerville.
El
Dorado County
Building Departments
El
Dorado County Building Department
South Lake Tahoe - 530-573-3330
Larry Lohman, Branch Manager
Jim Swanson, County Building Inspector
Larry
has no programs to test for or abate radon through building
permits in the county portions of the Lake Tahoe Basin. He says
if it's not in the Uniform Building Code it can't be enforced.
He was not interested in applying for a free all expense paid
training on radon mitigation in new construction because he
would not be able to enforce the new methods.
City
of South Lake Tahoe
Planning Department
City
of South Lake Tahoe Planning Department
Judy Finn - 530-542-6020
My
research indicates that building departments and planning departments
do not currently issue testing or mitigation guidelines or specifications
to those building houses. When asked, they refer me to the environmental
management agencies. I think this is a weakness in the building
and planning process as home owners are not made aware of problems
or even potential problems before they move in to a new home.
Fixing it after the fact is usually more difficult (and expensive)
than during the planning and building stage.
City
of South Lake Tahoe
Building Department City of South Lake Tahoe Building Department
Dave Walker - 530-542-6010
Currently no plans to issue radon testing guidelines or requirements
with building permits. Recent (2011) data shows a much more active role by the building department in handing out radon literature or at least to have is available in the lobby.
Scientific
and Public Policy Radon Groups
The
Lungevity Foundation
http://www.lungevity.org
Radon
Ranger Publications
http://www.radonranger.com
The
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST)
http://www.aarst.org
The
American Radon Policy Coalition (ARPC)
http://www.radonnews.org
Cancer
Survivors Against Radon (CANSAR)
http://www.cansar.org
The
American Lung Association Radon Fact Sheet
http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=34706&ct=67121
Radon
in Rental Housing
Environmental
Law Institute
Radon in Rental Housing: Legal and Policy Strategies for Reducing
Health Risks
Initiatives targeted at reducing exposure to high radon levels
in rental housing
1994, $18
http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=343
Funds
may be available to reduce high radon levels in rental housing
There
are some federal programs that might be used to help fund radon
reduction in homes that are affordable to limited income families.
These programs generally give money to local agencies or groups,
which then fund the work. Some examples are:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program - funds
rehabilitation and repair of affordable housing. For more information,
call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
at (202) 708-3587.
"203k" program - funds rehabilitation and repair
of single family homes. For more information, call HUD at (202)
708-2121.
Environmental Justice Grants - funds community-based
organizations and tribal governments addressing environmental
concerns of people of color and low income communities. For
more information, call EPA's Office of Environmental Justice
at (800) 962-6215.
Radon
Products and Services
Air
Chek, Inc
Air Chek distributes the $10 Radon Test Kit
http://www.radon.com/
Radon Test Kits are also available free to California residents
from the
Department of Health Services
Radon Hotline 1-(800)-745-7236
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/environmental/radon/default.htm
Infiltec
is a good site for diagrams and plans of installed mitigation
systems.
http://www.infiltec.com/
Radon
Supplies
888-800-5955
This is where I purchased my radon mitigation supplies. Good
products and fast service.
http://www.radonsupplies.com
Family
Safety Products, Inc.
Manufacturers of the Pro Series 3 Radon Detector that I recommend
and sell.
http://www.familysafetyproductsinc.com
Alpha
Energy Laboratories
http://www.drhomeair.com/
Landauer
http://www.landauerinc.com/radtrak.htm
Accustar
Labs
http://www.accustarlabs.com/shop_homeowner.php
RTCA
http://rtca.com/
Festa
Radon Technologies
http://www.festaradontech.com/
Professional
Discount Supply
I met these folks while taking my radon classes at CERTI in
Colorado. They supplied me with EPA approved supplies and materials
for radon mitigation.
http://www.radonpds.com/
1-800-688-5776
See my recommendation on Supplies Page
Radonaway
http://www.radonaway.com/
Professional
Testing
Certified
radon testers are available in South Lake Tahoe, Sacramento,
Carson City and Reno who will come up to Tahoe to test a house.
They use expensive and sophisticated monitors that detect fraudulent
tampering with the test for real estate transactions, as well
as canister tests sent off to a lab. You can view a list of
certified testers in California at the National Environmental
Health Association - http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/Pages/RadonServiceProviders.aspx
See the Sponsors box at the top of this page, but here
is a partial list of other local testers I am aware of. There may be more. Please do your own research. I do not endorse
any of these, but only list them for your information
Jay
Stahler
Blue Marble Inspections
Sacramento, CA, 916-971-4716
Jay and Jim Stahler do home and radon inspections
They are certified by NEHA and use a $4000 continuous monitoring
device
They charge $250 for the test and $100 for travel to Tahoe
Greg
Scolari
Home Team Home Inspections
Reno, NV - 775-829-4415
Bruce
Pickering
Inn-Spec Home Inspection Service
South
Lake Tahoe, CA - 530-542-2888
Professional
Testing and Mitigation
Alan
Bennet
Sierra Radon Services
Reno, NV - 775-853-1409
Alan uses canister testing sent out to certified radon labs.
This is one of the few local radon mitigation services. Does
not like to come up to the Lake, last time I checked.
A
note on pricing:
As
of 1/19/2007, the California Radon web site list only three
certified radon mitigators, and they are all in Southern California.
One came to Tahoe and charged nearly $4,000 to
mitigate the house of one of my radon tester customers.
As of 10/25/2011 there are 11 mitigators on the California list and 6 close to Tahoe. Books
A
search for "radon" on Amazon.com lists 736 books,
including:
The "Best" Radon Mitigation Book (in my humble opinion,
and which I carry)
Second Edition of Doug Kladder's Radon Mitigation Book
A "How To" manual for the do-it-yourselfer
Protecting Your Home from Radon: A Step
by Step Manual for Radon Reduction, 1993
by Douglas L. Kladder, James F. Burkhart, Steven R. Jelinek
Radon
- The Invisible Threat, 1987
by Michael Lafavore also available used on Amazon. The story
radon: What it is, how it was discovered to be a problem and
how the mitigation measures were developed. A good read if you
want to learn more about radon in a narritive fashion. Complete list of Radon-Specific Publications and Resources from
the EPA
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html
Once
you have an EPA Publication number, go here to order
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ncepihom/nsCatalog.nsf/SearchPubs?OpenForm&CartID=9657-113711
The
U.S. Geology Survey has a good book called The Geology of
Radon
It is free with a $5 handling charge
http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/radon/georadon.htmlThe
El Dorado County Library
Books available from our local library:
Radon
: a homeowner's guide to detection and control
Cohen, Bernard Leonard, 1924-
Radon
: the invisible threat : what it is, where it is, how to keep
your house safe
Lafavore, Michael.
Facts
on radon and asbestos
Taylor, Ron (Ron B.)
The
radon file
Vitola, Denise.
Protecting
your home from radon : a step-by-step manual for radon reduction
Kladder, Douglas L.
Training
for the Professional (and home-owner!)
Home
study courses are available in radon testing and mitigation
certification. Qualified individuals and contractors may consider
radon testing or mitigation as an off-season profession. Learn
more.
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