HUD has committed to minimize residential radon exposure by developing policy across programs and providing guidance and technical assistance to HUD program partners. According to the plan (released November 17), HUD will develop a simple departmental radon policy clarifying regulatory minimums by April 2022. Also, HUD’s offices of Public and Indian Housing (IPH) and Community Planning and Development (CPD) will develop program-specific radon policy requirements during FY 22, and HUD is beginning rulemaking to refine department-wide radon testing and mitigation standards by regulation. HUD will also continue to deliver training and guidance to HUD’s program partners; HUD has involved AARST in these efforts.
While announced in the context of climate action, these decisions were preceded by an April 2021 HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) report recommending that HUD develop department-wide and program office policies. OIG had investigated differences between PIH, CPD, and Multifamily Housing radon policies and whether HUD implemented requirements of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act (P.L. 100-628). AARST was joined by the Conference of Radiation Program Directors, National Center for Healthy Housing, the National Housing Law Project, and the National Low-Income Housing Coalition in this Letter to Secretary Fudge requesting HUD act on the OIG report. For more information, contact nationalpolicy@aarst.org.