1. Pennsylvania’s Radon Program- Certification, Fees, and Regulations September 21, 2016 San Diego, CA Denise S. Bleiler Radiation Protection Program Supervisor

2. History
1984
Employee, Stanley Watras, coming to Limerick Power Plant was setting off the alarms
Questioned leak at plant??
Prompts engineers at facility to look closer and measure radon in Stanley’s home
2700 pCi/L

3. History Radon Certification Act – 1987
Requires anyone performing radon services in the Commonwealth of PA to be certified
Pa. Code Title 25 Environmental Protection
Chapter 240 Radon Certification
Testing & Mitigation protocols
Inspection
Health & Safety program
The primary purpose of the Act and the subsequent Chapter 240 Radon Certification Regulations is to protect the health & safety of the public and to protect the public from unqualified or unscrupulous persons
Requires the Dep’t. to establish, by regulation, a certification program for persons conducting radon gas and radon progeny testing, lab analysis, and mitigation of radon contamination in buildings
Radon certification has been required by PA since

4. Bob Lewis – Program Manager
Organization in PA: Central Office
Radon Division Staff
Bob Lewis – Program Manager
Denise Bleiler –Monitoring
Program Supervisor
Kelley Oberdick –Certification
vacant– RHP2
- Mitigation
Jennifer Daly – RHP2
vacant– RHP1
- Quality Control/Testing
Support Staff
Tina Bowers-Paris – Management Technician
- Greenport
Gail Ramsey – Clerical
vacant- Clerical
This is our Central Office staff in Harrisburg. Certification is done through the Central Office. Inspections are sent out of Central Office but support comes from the Regional Offices.

5. Organization in PA: Regional offices
Southwest Region
1 dedicated inspector
Southcentral Region
Southeast Region
4 – 5 inspectors

6. Present day 450 Certified Testing Individuals
81 Certified Testing Firms
23 Certified Laboratory Individuals
18 Certified Laboratory Firms
139 Certified Mitigation Individuals
64 Certified Mitigation Firms

7. Certification Application
Pennsylvania Radon Certification Forms and Information
Department sends a reminder letter 90 days before renewal – every 2 yrs
Industry may access these forms on line through e-library

8. Regulations and Protocols
Penna. Certification Guide
Indoor Radon & Radon Decay Product Measurement Device Protocols,
EPA-402-R July ’92
Protocols for Radon & Radon Decay Product Measurement in Homes,
EPA-402-R June ‘93

9. Proposed Regulation Revisions
Max number of employees for test/mit FIRMs
Deleting Exposure Tracking for the tester
Cross check requirements being dropped
Minimum 3 spikes requirements dropped when no testing done
Several additions are already industry practice
EPA protocols
Add/drop device when uncalibrated

10. Proposed Fee Revisions

11. Proposed Fee Revisions
Increase Fees by 50% - previous slide
No increase since 2009
Adding a $50.00 Mitigation Tag Fee

12. Inspection Categories
Routine - regularly scheduled (2-4 years)
Complaint - received from public and evaluated by Radon Division to warrant inspection.
Courtesy - Offered to new testers/labs. Conducted within 6-9 months of initial certification.

13. Inspection Checklists
Firm/Individual Lab/Tester Inspection Checklist
Mitigation Office/Mitigation Field Checklists
Device Specific Inspection Checklists
Activated Charcoal (AC)
Continuous Monitor (CR)
Electret Ion Chamber (ES/EL)
Alpha Track (AT)
Liquid Scintillation (LS)

14. Standardized Inspection Letters
Appointment letters/ /phone call
Inspection Results Letters
Notice of Violation (NOV)
Acknowledgement
Courtesy Results

15. Inspection Program Responsibilities
Central Office
Select candidates
Review file
Prep checklist
Forward to Region
Track progress
Maintain files & computer records
Provide assistance
Regional Office
Schedule inspection
Conduct inspection (complete checklist)
Issue inspection results letter
Forward completed checklist & letters to Central Office

16. Common Inspection Findings
Crawl Space Vents, Placed/Retrieved By, Health Risk Info.
Calculation, Charting of RPD for Passive Devices.
Cross Checks/Intercomparisons for Active Devices.
QC Checks (Spikes, Blanks)
ES/EL Voltmeter/Reference Checks

17. Enforcement
Historically, most enforcements have been for uncertified activities- both testing and mitigation
Within the past 4-7 years, the majority of enforcements have been for uncalibrated devices (monitors and electret readers)
Within the past 3 years, the majority of enforcements have been for uncalibrated devices that have been used for testing

18. Enforcement Reasons for success:
Initial letters/reminder letters sent to industry
Collect serial numbers through Greenport
History of education and compliance assistance
Enforcements used when compliance assistance fails
Enforcements on repeat violations during inspections

19. Penalty Calculation

20. Penalty Calculation

21. Conclusions Certification began late 1980s
Worked at bringing industry into compliance for many years using regulations, EPA protocols, and guidance documents
Continue to work on having a robust inspection program
Enforcements occur when necessary to protect the health and safety of our citizens
Increase fees and regulation changes are part of a growing program

22. Radon Monitoring Supervisor
Thank you !!
Questions ?
Bob Lewis
Radon Program Manager
Denise S. Bleiler
Radon Monitoring Supervisor
Denise S. Bleiler
Radon Monitoring Supervisor

23. Denise S. Bleiler Radiation Protection Program Supervisor DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection PO Box 8469 Harrisburg, PA Tel: