LD 943 Fact Sheet (Public Law Chapter 278)

LD 943, An Act To Reduce Lung Cancer Rates in Maine, was signed by Governor Baldacci on June 8. This new law, which requires radon testing in all residential rental properties by the year 2012, will take effect 90 days following adjournment of the 124th Legislature, First Regular Session.

Specific details of the new law are:

  • Radon tests required under this law must be conducted by a person registered with DHHS to conduct radon tests pursuant to Title 22, chapter 165 (the Maine Radon Registration Act).
  • The landlord or lessor of a residential rental property must provide written notice about radon and the results of the required radon testing to each tenant or potential tenant.
  • The Department will develop a disclosure statement for landlords or lessors to give to each tenant, which informs the tenant about radon and its risks. This form must be posted on the Department’s radon website.
  • The tenant will have to sign an acknowledgment that they have received this disclosure.
  • When radon test results show 4 pCi/l or higher radon levels, the landlord or lessor must mitigate those levels within six months, or within six months of obtaining local permits if required in their community.
  • Mitigation must be conducted by a person registered with DHHS to conduct radon mitigation pursuant to Title 22, chapter 165 (the Maine Radon Registration Act).
  • After mitigation has been successful, the landlord or lessor must provide notice of this to tenants.

The new law also modifies Title 22, chapter 165 to require addresses of all structures that are tested or mitigated for radon must be reported to the Department in addition to the other information already required to be reported for each radon test or radon mitigation. This will allow the Department to develop a database to help track which residential rental properties have been tested as required under this new law.

General information about radon:

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas.

Radon comes from the normal breakdown of uranium that is found in almost all rocks and soils on Earth.

Radon is more common in the rocks and soils found in Maine than those found in many other states.

Radon has been proven to cause lung cancer.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, and the leading cause for people who do not smoke.

It takes many years of exposure to high levels of radon before anyone might get lung cancer due to radon.

Radon can come from the ground, or from well water.

More information about radon is available from www.maineradiationcontrol.org, in the radon section.

Information about registered radon testers, mitigators, and labs:

About 100 radon testers are currently registered with the Department.

About 30 mitigators are currently registered with the Department.

About 20 labs are currently registered with the Department to analyze radon test kits used by registered radon testers or by home owners who are testing their homes that are not for sale.

More information about radon testers, radon mitigators, and radon labs is available from www.maineradiationcontrol.org, in the radon section.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL THE RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM AT:
207-287-5676