Use current radon maps in determining areas of high radon risk

The USGBC should use current, local and accurate radon maps in determining areas of high radon risk. Just because the EPA published a national radon map by county 20 years ago, does not mean it is the final authority on radon risk potential today. Many states and localities have produced more accurate and more recent radon risk maps and they should be used by the USGBC when and where available. The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologist (AARST) a leading radon industry professional group, states in it's recent revision of the Radon Resistant New Construction RRNC 2.0 consensus document: "SECTION 1201 RADON POTENTIAL ZONES 1201.1 EPA established zones. The radon potential of a building site shall be estimated from the United States environmental Protection Agency radon potential map as shown in Figure 1201.1 or from United States Environmental Protection Agency radon potential by county listing as shown in Table 1201.2. Where state or local jurisdictions have published radon potential data, such data shall supersede the information in Figure 1201.1 and Table 1201.2." I can't speak for all states, but I know that in California, one has only to look at the California Geologic Survey's radon web site (http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/minerals/hazardous_minerals/radon/Pages/Index.aspx) to find 18 localized radon maps either completed or under development. These readily available radon maps and surveys should be used (where and when available) by the USGBC in establishing high radon risk areas and the 20 year old EPA national radon map should only be used where these more recent maps do not exist.