The lead agency for radon activities in North Carolina is NC Radiation Protection (NCRP) a section of the Division of Environmental Health (DEH) of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR). This agency is the main point of contact for radon activities to the citizens of this state.

The responsibilities of the NCRP include radioactive material license inspections, electronic products radiation evaluations (mamography , tanning and X-rays machines) , Environmental radiation monitoring and nuclear emergency preparedness. The Environmental group of NCRP performs statewide environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness around nuclear facilities, and statewide background radiation detection. The radon program of this group is also involved in public information, residential and school monitoring projects and acts in a technical advisory capacity for other State and county agencies involved in radon gases.

The NCRP is also the sole state agency for the federal State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG).

NCRP receives SIRG grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency each year and administers them according to submitted work plan in the application. NCRP will work with agencies within and outside State government and coordinate efforts of each radon activity group to avoid duplication. Previously, NCRP has worked with the N. C. Division of Health Services,NCRP receives SIRG grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency each year and administers them according to submitted work plan in the application. NCRP willwork with NCRP receives SIRG grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency each year and administers them according to submitted work plan in the application. NCRP will work with agencies within and outside State government and coordinate efforts of each radon activity group to avoid duplication. Previously, NCRP has worked with the N. C. Division of Health Services, Department of Public Instruction, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), North Carolina State University (NCSU), NC Cooperative Extension (NCCE), the NC Geological Survey Section (NCGS) , the NC Division of Epidemiology, NC Division of Water Quality and NC county health departments of Guilford, Forsyth, and Yadkin.

At the present time, most radon testing data available in NC occurs during a real estate transaction. Expanded efforts in the coming year will be to educate real estate agents, buyers and sellers to promote radon testing and better interpretation of the test results. Hopefully, these efforts will increase the number of houses to be mitigated for radon.

We are very excited about implementing all these important tasks in radon issues in North Carolina. We will follow EPA’s priority areas of concern in radon. The priority areas are: 1) Getting homes built with radon resistant new construction techniques; 2) Disclosure testing and mitigation in conjunction with real estate transfers; 3) Testing and, where necessary, mitigation schools for radon; 4) Setting environmental results goals and, 5) Developing coalitions, which work in partnerships with local governments, partner affiliates and other radon risk reduction leaders.

We welcome any suggestions, advice and input to improve our radon program in North Carolina.