2010 International Radon Symposium and Training Conference

SAVE THE DATE:

October 17-20, 2010

2010 International Radon Symposium and Training Conference

Columbus Convention Center and Downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel, Columbus, Ohio.

Sponsors:

Conference for Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD)

American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

Ohio Association of Radon Professionals (OARP)

Ohio Department of Health (ODH)

ODH radon licensees can obtain up to eight hours of continuing education credit for each day of attendance.

Additional information will be provided in the upcoming months.

Continuing Education Seminar - October 17, 2009 - Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio Association of Radon Professionals (OARP) is hosting an eight (8) hour continuing education seminar on Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the Quest Business Center (8405 Pulsar Place - on I-71 near Polaris) in Columbus, Ohio.

The conference will feature sessions on "Radon-Resistant New Construction" and "Tactics & Green Building Codes" by Harry Grafton (Environmental Consultations, Columbus, Ohio).

Other topics include "Tackling the Media with a Persuasive Message" and "Strategies for Radon Action Month by Melinda Zempher (Oak Tree Communications), "Ohio Department of Health Update" (ODH representives) and "AARST National Symposium Re-cap" (OARP members).

Cost:

OARP Members: $75.00.

Non-members: $100.00.

Registration Deadline: October 5, 2009.

Registration/availability questions:

Heather Miltenberger (513-752-9111 or heather@macparan.com).

Content questions:

Alexia Workman (513-562-8378 or alexia@athomeradon.com).

OARP Federal ID #: 55-0884795.

Registration form: print this post, fill-in the following, and mail to:

OARP

3959 Fulton Grove Road

Cincinnati, OH 45245

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Name:

Company:

Email:

Phone:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Amount Enclosed (member, $75; non-member, $100): $

Radon Continuing Education Conference: October 17, 2009

The Ohio Association of Radon Professionals is sponsoring an eight hour continuing education conference in Columbus, Ohio at the Quest Business Center (Polaris area) on Saturday, October 17, 2009.

Approximate time will be 08:30 AM to 05:00 PM.

2009 Officers and Directors

Officers (2009):

President: Alexia Workman

Vice President: Tom Jessup

Treasurer: Larry Fawcett

Secretary: Heather Miltenberger

Directors

Larry Fawcett (2008-2009)

Heather Miltenberger (2008-2009)

Rich Spraggs (2008-2009)

Alexia Workman (2009-2009)

Liz James (2009-2010)

Tom Jessup (2009-2010)

Al Perry (2009-2010)

Terry Thomas (2009-2010)

Fritz Tresso (2009-2010)

Thanks to the new officers and directors for serving.

And - a special thanks to outgoing officers and directors for serving.

Annual Meeting: Monday, August 03, 2009 at 07:30 PM EDT

An annual meeting of the OARP Membership will take place online at gotomeeting.com on Monday, August 03, 2009 At 7:30-8:30 PM EDT.

Members should have received instructions on how to register by July 25, 2009. Pre-registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

If there is not a quorum, the President will adjourn the Membership Meeting and a Director’s Meeting will take place.

We have volunteers for officer positions for 2009. Election of new officers will be finalized at the Director’s Meeting.

OARP Directors:
Larry Fawcett - Huron, OH (2008-2009)
Liz James - Columbus, OH (2009-2010)
Tom Jessup - Piqua, OH (2009-2010)
Heather Miltenberger - Cincinnati, OH (2008-2009)
Rich Spraggs - Piqua, OH (2008-2009)
Terry Thomas - Norton, OH (2009-2010)
Fritz Tresso - Perrysburg, OH (2009-2010)
Alexia Workman - Cincinnati, OH (2008-2009)
Al Perry - North Canton, OH (2009-2010)

Suggestions from OARP if you have not participated in a Webinar: sign in and call the phone number (as explained in the confirmation email you will receive after registration) 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Use your phone's MUTE button if there is background noise at your location (and be sure to UNMUTE when you want to speak). Regarding browsers: Internet Explorer and Firefox work seamlessly with gotomeeting, but you may experience trouble with Chrome. We will not be able to diagnose connection problems (if any) during the meeting. If you are having problems, just listen in on the audio portion of the meeting on your phone.

We hope you can participate and look forward to a productive meeting!

OARP Member List

The attached document includes dues-paid (up through 06/30/2009) OARP members.

Radon Testing In Schools: CE Seminar May 01 and 02, 2009

The Ohio Association of Radon Professionals presents Radon Testing In Schools - a comprehensive training program from preparation through to the follow-up. Also included will be sessions on updated QA/QC plans from the Ohio Department of Health and Air-Check device use in schools.

Friday, May 01, 2009 - 09:00 AM to 04:30 PM (8 hours of CE)

Radon Testing In Schools

Cost: $100.

Continental breakfast and lunch is included.

Aullwood Audubon Center - Dayton, Ohio.

Saturday, May 02, 2009 - 09:00 AM to 04:30 PM (8 hours of CE)

ODH Updates and Air-Check Device/Scanner Usage

Cost: $100.

Continental breakfast and lunch is included.

Aullwood Audubon Center - Dayton, Ohio.

The cost to attend both days is $150* for OARP members!

*This discounted rate is limited to OARP members who have registered and paid in advance. The discounted fee will not be available to walk-ins or for those who have not paid in advance. If you are not a member of OARP, you would like to join, and will be attending both days - send a check for $200 ($50 for OARP membership up through 4/30/2010 and $150 for the two-day conference). Please note that membership in AARST is required in order to be an OARP member (OARP is a chapter of AARST).

Reservations are required and is limited to 40 attendees per day. Preference will be given to existing dues-paid OARP members. Send a check today to reserve your spot at one or both days.

Location: Aullwood Audubon Center, 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton, OH 45414. The Aullwood Audubon Center is minutes from Exit 29 on I-70 (one exit west of the Dayton Airport).

For registration/availability questions, contact Heather Miltenberger at 513-752-9111 or heather@macparan.com. For content information, contact Gail Manning at 937-438-5686 or gmanning1@woh.rr.com.

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Registration Form

(copy and paste into your word processing program)

Name:

Company:

Phone:

Email:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

I will be attending Friday, May 01: ______ ($100)

I will be attending Saturday, May 02: ______ ($100)

*I will be attending both days: _____ ($150)

OARP Membership Dues: _____($50)

TOTAL: $________

Make check payable to OARP and send by Monday April 27, 2009 to:

Heather Miltenberger

3959 Fulton Grove Road

Cincinnati, OH 45245

OARP Federal ID: 55-0884795.

National Radon Poster Contest - 2009 Winner

Pictured here is the winning submission from Ohio, which was selected as the 3rd Place National Winner.

The National Safety Council, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sponsored the 2009 National Radon Poster Contest for children ages 9-14 to generate interest, enthusiasm, and action about radon safety and to increase the number of homes tested for radon.

Below is a list of this years Radon Poster Contest Winners.

National Winners:

First Place
Shana, Age 10, Georgia

Second Place
Raquel, Age 13, Florida

Third Place
Gurbani, Age 13, Ohio

January is Radon Action Month!

Continuing Education Conference: Radon Mitigation of Commercial, Large Buildings, and Schools

The Ohio Association of Radon Professionals announces a Fall, 2008 Continuing Education Conference.

Saturday, November 08, 2008
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Quest Business Center
8405 Pulsar Place
Columbus, Ohio
800-909-7665

Please note that this has been rescheduled from October 04 and the cost to attend has been significantly reduced.  The Quest Business Center is located on I-71 northeast of Columbus at Exit 121 (Polaris Parkway).

Topic: "Radon Mitigation of Commercial, Large Buildings, and Schools". The eight hours of training will be provided by Bill Broadhead.  Mr. Broadhead is President of WPB Enterprises (Riegelsville, PA), a well-respected radon specialist, and a pioneer and continuing innovator in the radon filed.

The cost is $150 per person and $100 per person for OARP members.

Eight hours of continuing education credits will be awarded.

Send registration information (print the form below or send a business card) and a check to:

OARP
Attn: Gail Manning
2663 Orchard Run Road
Dayton, OH 45449

Checks must accompany registration due to costs to provide this training.

The deadline for registrations is Saturday, November 01, 2008.

For more information, call 937-438-5686.

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Name:

Company:

Address:

City, state, zip:

Phone:

Email:

OARP Dues Notice

Dues of $50.00 for the period of July, 2008 through June, 2009 are due. Please send a check (made out to "OARP") to Rich Spraggs, 1949 Beckert Drive, Piqua, OH 45356-4403.

Thank you very much; your support of OARP is appreciated!

AARST Position Statement: Granite Countertops and Radon Gas

From the Science and Technical Committee of the American Association

of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST)

August 4, 2008

Radon Risk:

The primary concern about indoor radon gas is the increased risk of lung cancer that exists from breathing radon and its byproducts. The magnitude of the risk depends on the radon concentration in the air you breathe and how long you are breathing it. Radon gas is a serious national concern. The risk of radon-related lung cancer increases the longer you are exposed although any exposure to radon poses some risk.

Testing for radon in the air you breathe should be a high priority and the first step for anyone concerned about radon gas. The US Surgeon General, US EPA, AARST and the American Lung Association recommend that all homes be tested for radon gas.

At this time, the EPA does not believe sufficient data exists to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels.

Radon Sources Including Granite:

Soil, sand, and rock underneath the home are the primary sources of indoor radon gas. The soil under a house always contains traces of uranium that eventually decays into radium that then decays directly into radon. This soil constitutes an enormous surface area for release of radon gas into the air and into buildings. Materials inside a building such as concrete, granite, slate, marble, sand, shale and other stones can also contain traces of radium that release radon with varying intensities. While natural rocks such as granite may emit some radon gas, the subsequent levels of radon in the building that are attributable to such sources are not typically high. The contribution from building materials to the indoor radon concentration is very dependent upon the building ventilation rate.

Appropriate Radon Testing Methods:
Direct measurements in a building of the gamma radiation or radon emanation from a material, such as granite, is not a reliable indicator of radon concentrations that will be in the air you breathe. Attempts to use such measurements for estimating risk are subject to large errors due to the:

1. wide variability of radon emanation rates across the surface of granite.
2. significant variability in ventilation rates from home to home and room to room.
3. volume of space that the building material is contained in.

This position statement does not address the risk, if any, of gamma radiation from indoor building materials.

Practical Diagnostic Test:

• Diagnostic measurements of the radon in the air you breathe can provide better risk estimates.
• Perform a radon measurement according to testing protocols (specified by EPA or AARST as noted below) in the lowest level (or lived-in level) of your home.
• At the same time, perform another test in the room where the granite countertop or other suspect building material exists. You may also want to test in a highly occupied room, like your bedroom. (Use different rooms if these locations are on the same floor.)
• Place the test devices at least 20 inches off the floor according to testing protocols and at least 20 inches away from the countertop or suspect material. Carefully follow all manufacturers’ test kit instructions.
• You may also contact a State licensed or nationally certified radon measurement professional to conduct the measurements for you.
• If any of the test results are at or above the EPA recommended action levels retest these areas to confirm the initial results.

Interpreting Radon Test Results:
For guidance on test results and protocols for measurements of radon in the air, see documents such as EPA’s Citizens Guide to Radon or other EPA publications at http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs. Other information and publications for measuring radon in the air for home and multi-family dwellings can also be found at http://www.aarst.org/.

If confirmed measurements are at, or above, the EPA recommended action levels, contact a State licensed or nationally certified mitigation professional to fix the home to reduce the radon levels.

Reducing Radon Concentrations:
The best approach to reduce radon in the home is to install an active soil depressurization system (ASD) and reduce the entry of radon coming from the soil. In some cases, increasing the entry of outdoor air to the home is an appropriate method to reduce radon levels by dilution and improve indoor air quality. Both of these methods require a qualified radon mitigation professional to design and install the appropriate radon reduction system. Only in extreme cases would removal of the granite be necessary to reduce the radon concentration, assuming appropriate measurements confirm it as the significant source.

In Conclusion:
Testing the air you breathe is the best method to determine your risk from radon, whether the source of the radon is from the soil or from a material inside the building.

We support peer-reviewed research to identify and quantify the contributions of various building materials to indoor radon concentrations.

GREEN UPDATES FOR REAL ESTATE, BUILDING, AND RADON PROFESSIONALS

Green Updates for Real Estate, Building, and Radon Industries

Date: Friday, August 29, 2008

Location: Aullwood Audubon Center Auditorium
1000 Aullwood Road
Dayton, Ohio 45414

Agenda
8:30 am Registration, Continental Breakfast
9am Participating in the Green Movement
Barb Yankie, President
Green Building Consulting, LLC & Homes +, Inc.
11am Break
11:15 Radon and Indoor Air Quality:
The Builder’s Point
Mike Kegley, Co‐Owner BOLD Homes
12pm Lunch (provided)
1pm Radon in the Building Code
Jeffrey S. Tyler, AIA,CBO
Director of Building Standards,
City of Dublin
1:15 Green Building Means a Safe Building:
Reducing Radon Risks Through
Proper Radon Mitigation Practices
Joshua J. Kerber, MS
Ohio Department of Health
1:45 EcoBroker® Certification
and the Green Realtor
Tim McDonald, Realtor with RE/MAX
Unlimited and Certified EcoBroker®
2:15 Break
2:30 Radon & Mold: Myths & Facts!
Alec Hagerty, Speaker/Trainer
Real Estate Broker
3:30 WrapUp
Gail Manning
President, Ohio Association of Radon Professionals
Owner, Pro‐Test
ODH licensed Radon Specialist
4pm Adjourn

CEU Approval Pending for Real Estate and Radon Professionals

Visit www.rapca.org for CEU and Session Updates

Green is the new buzz word, and the home market is no exception! Learn how you can better serve your clients in the areas of green home building, green building legislation, and reducing your risk when assisting clients with green aspects of real estate transactions.

Register Today—Space is Limited!
Name:_______________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Phone Number:_________________________________________
Email:____________________________________________________
Company:________________________________________________
I am a Member of the Following Industry:
_ Real Estate
_ Building/Construction
_ Radon
_ Government
_ Other __________________________________________
_ Registration Fee of $25.00 (cash or check, please) enclosed

Please send registration and payment to:
Ohio Association of Radon Professionals
Attn: Gail Manning
2663 Orchard Run Rd.
Dayton, OH 45449

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 25

EPA Radon Document Revision

Click on the link below access to the draft document (you will need the user name and password for access). The US EPA intends to replace the Home Buyers and Sellers Guide, Citizens Guide, and Consumers Guide to Radon with a revised document.

Please submit comments.

www.cadmusgroup.com/dev/radon_publication

User Name: CadmusGuest

Password: Steelhead*

Thank you,

Gail Manning
OARP President

Looks good!

Radon Forum and Workshop - Reminder!

The Radon Licensing Program of the Ohio Department of Health along with the Ohio Association of Radon Professionals (OARP), the U.S. EPA, and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) will be conducting a RADON STAKEHOLDERS FORUM AND WORKSHOP on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 at the Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Click on the above link ("Radon Forum and Workshop - Reminder!") or go to www.crcpd.org/R5RSF.asp for information and a registration form. If you have any questions about the registration process or the Radon Forum, please contact Sharon Bowen of the CRCPD at 502-227-4543 ext. 2229 or Michael Murphy of the U.S. EPA at 312-353-6686.

Please note that registration and payment is due by Tuesday, April 1, 2008!

You will be able to obtain either eight hours or 16 hours of credit depending upon your choice of one or two days of attendance. The cost is $40 for both days or $25 for either one-day session which includes snacks and drinks during breaks. Lunch and parking will be on your own.


The format for this Forum will be the same as used at national radon meetings. The U.S. EPA from Washington D.C. and Region V, Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), and other speakers from the national level will be represented.Thursday (04/10) topics include a welcome session by the USEPA and the ODH, a keynote presentation by Bill Field (tentative), "Radon-Safe Homes Save Lives", "Radon and Real Estate", "Radon and the Builder Industry", "Introduction to Jared's Law", and "Creating a Radon Leadership Network in Region V".Friday (04/11) topics include "Radon Leaders Saving Lives - the Role of the Medical Community", discussion sessions, "Leaving in Action - Action Plans for Saving Lives in Region V", and afternoon sessions by the Ohio Department of Health on "Jared's Law" and "Radon Testing in Schools". OARP members who responded to our June, 2007 membership drive will be partially reimbursed for attending the Forum.

Brennan Curry - Ohio Radon Poster Contest Winner

An article in the Middletown Journal on 12/13/2007 by Megan Gildow describes the event as follows:

Local student wins state poster contest - Brennan Curry's entry on the dangers of radon gas will be entered in a national competition in Washington, D.C.

When Brennan Curry walked into the Highview Cafe Wednesday afternoon, he was excited for what he thought was a "Box Tops for Education" pizza party. Sitting at a red table, he cheered along with his fourth-grade classmates from Lynda Goecke's class, never suspecting his family, Tricia, Roger and 4-year-old Madelyn, along with his grandparents, Helen and John d'Entremont, were hiding around the corner.

Minutes later, he learned the pizza party actually was in his honor.

Brennan, 9, was chosen from 66 entries as the winner of statewide poster contest promoting radon awareness.

"I can barely even eat," he said, surrounded by friends and family after the announcement.

Brennan's mom didn't tell him he had won when she found out two weeks ago, she said.

"He's been asking about it," Tricia said. "He beat out middle school kids," Roger boasted proudly. "Middle school and high school kids were in there. It was awesome."

Art teacher Sharon Brown, who brought cupcakes to the celebration, said the school's staff worked together to help the kids enter the contest. "We could win nationals," she said.

As Ohio's first-place winner, Brennan's poster, which features a house and a tree with the warning "get your house checked," will be entered in a national competition in Washington, D.C., said Gail Manning, president of the Ohio Association of Radon Professionals. She was at Highview Wednesday along with Elizabeth James from the Ohio Department of Health Radon Division and Kelli Stewart from Regional Air Pollution Control, the agencies sponsoring Ohio's contest.

The poster contest is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of exposure to radon gas. "You should get your house checked," said Brennan, who said he draws every night before bed. "If you don't, you can get very sick."

Contact Megan Gildow at (513) 705-2805 or mgildow@coxohio.com.

2008 Radon Poster Contest Winner

Thanks to the efforts of Gail Manning, OARP President and the members of OARP, Brennan Curry, a 4th-grade student from Highview Elementary School in Middletown, Ohio received First Place in the Ohio contest.

Lower picture: First Place National winner (Sara, age 13, Florida).

Click on the above link to learn more.

The National Safety Council, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sponsored the 2008 National Radon Poster Contest for children ages 9-14 to generate interest, enthusiasm, and action about radon safety and to increase the number of homes tested for radon.

Over 70 entries were received. Gail, Liz, and Kelli chose the 3 winners and they come from 3 separate parts of the state of Ohio, Middletown, Minford, and West Liberty. Liz James (Ohio Department of Health) and Kelli Stewart (Regional Air Pollution Control Agency) helped judge entries. RAPCA donated a savings bond and sponsored a pizza party at Brennan's school. RAPCA framed a copy of his poster and presented it to him at the pizza party.

Gail recommends OARP sponsor the contest again this year. RAPCA has already volunteered to participate again.

AARST Conference

AARST Conference, Jacksonville, Florida, September, 2007.

OARP Meeting

Gail Manning snapped this picture of Dick Manning, Tom Jessup, Larry Fawcett,, Rich Spraggs, and Craig Schimming on February 04, 2008 at the recent OARP meeting in Columbus while Marybeth Rich of the Ohio Department of Health was giving a presentation on Jared's Law.