1. Bringing Radon Mitigation To Tribal Communities
Farshid Farsi, EPA-TAMS
National Tribal Forum

2. Outline What is radon & why fix it Proposed project & approach
Our next steps
Contact information

3. What is radon & Why fix it?
Known health hazard
Estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year
Estimated 1 out of 15 homes are elevated
Found in homes and schools
Little predictability
Odorless, tasteless, & invisible
Easy to test/technology to mitigate available
Testing program in place; additional Eco-Café
Mitigation technology available
Can reduce up to 99% of your exposure

4. What is radon & Why fix it?
Current Radon efforts
Testing is available from EPA/TAMS Center
Outreach & education materials are available
EPA website
ITEP/EEOP
Recognize that Radon mitigation is not happening
Radon can be mitigated
Sealing entry paths, or
Sub-slab ventilation, or
RRNC, or
Barriers

5. Proposed Project & Approach
Goal: Reduce risk from radon exposure in tribal communities
Build tribal capability to implement radon reduction programs
Provide sources of funding & model approaches for achieving reduction
Maximize efforts by combining efforts in
Radon outreach & education
Programs to improve air & building structures (Healthy Homes, Weatherization, etc.)

6. Proposed Project & Approach
Proposed two-phase approach
Phase 1: A two year pilot program
Seed funding
2 or 3 partners with existing Healthy Homes or Weatherization programs
Phase 2: Establish partnerships for a sustainable radon effort with the goal of addressing indoor environmental issues in addition to radon

7. Proposed Project & Approach – Phase 1
Partner with 2 or 3 communities or organizations
Elevated radon present
Participate for 2 years
Have existing air and/or building improvement grants
Training method
Follow ITEP/TAMS Center model
EPA & tribal instructors
Tribal case studies
Provide technical & programmatic skills
Radon mitigation technologies
Identify funding sources

8. Proposed Project & Approach – Phase 1
Assist partner tribes in radon mitigations
Train tribal staff
Provide pre- and post-radon mitigation measurements
Find a way to perform radon reductions
Prepare training course for future delivery
Begin to develop partnerships with other federal agencies

9. Our Next Steps Continue conversations with related programs
Federal agencies (CDC & Healthy Homes, HUD, and DOE & Weatherization)
Tribes and tribally focused training programs
Consolidate known mitigation technologies

10. In closing… Radon is a hazard & should be fixed
Can’t see it, can’t smell it, can’t predict where it will be
Easy to measure & can be fixed
Can be integrated into other indoor air & building improvement efforts
Bringing radon technologies & methods to the tribes

11. Contact information
Farshid Farsi (TAMS Center)
or (702)
Emilio Braganza (EPA/R&IE)
or (702)