The Nation : EPA to Study Radon Risks

Concerned about the potential nationwide health hazards of naturally occurring radon gas, the Environmental Protection Agency is designing a survey to first determine the risks posed to residents in a three-state area, an EPA official said. Sheldon Meyers, director of the EPA’s office of radiation, said the survey would take nine months to design. At the same time, Meyers said the EPA had no authorization or funding to carry out the survey, noting that the responsibility for doing so may fall within the jurisdiction of state and local authorities. Meyers cautioned that it was not clear that the agency’s survey would lead to any federal regulations on naturally occurring radon. “We’re not sure what the proper role of the (federal) government is in this,” Meyers said.