Radon resistant construction proposal advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval Jan. 15 to a bill that would require all new homes in Nebraska to include radon resistant construction.

As introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, LB13 would have applied to all new residential construction beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

A Health and Human Services Committee amendment, adopted 27-0, extended the deadline to Jan. 1, 2016. Among other technical changes, the amendment also clarifies that any regulation regarding radon resistant construction adopted by a county, city or village must be at least as stringent as that adopted by the state Health and Human Services Department (DHHS).

Krist said the measure would protect families from radon, a radioactive element found in uranium in the soil. Nebraska has the third highest radon emission rate in the United States, he said, and radon exposure is the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.

Krist said radon resistant construction if far less costly than retroactively fitting a home for a radon mitigation system. An active system installed after a home is built can cost as much as $4,000 to $6,000 he said.

“At the new construction phase,” Krist said, “the cost is less than $1,000.”

Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor supported the bill.

“With this, we’re talking about a public health issue that can be addressed with a modest cost,” Gloor said.

Under the bill, DHHS would be responsible for coordination, oversight and implementation of measures to mitigate the risks of radon in residential dwellings.

The bill also would create a Radon-Resistant Building Codes Task Force that would include homebuilders, home inspectors, realtors and medical professionals, among others.

Krist offered and then withdrew an amendment that would have further extended the bill’s implementation date, which he said may be adjusted during the next round of debate.

LB13 advanced to select file 28-0.