§ 2661. — National goal.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2661]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 53--TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL
SUBCHAPTER III--INDOOR RADON ABATEMENT
Sec. 2661. National goal
The national long-term goal of the United States with respect to
radon levels in buildings is that the air within buildings in the United
States should be as free of radon as the ambient air outside of
buildings.
(Pub. L. 94-469, title III, Sec. 301, as added Pub. L. 100-551,
Sec. 1(a), Oct. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 2755.)
Report on Recommended Policy for Dealing With Radon in Assisted Housing
Pub. L. 100-628, title X, Sec. 1091, Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3283,
provided that:
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to require the Department of Housing and Urban Development
to develop an effective departmental policy for dealing with radon
contamination that utilizes any Environmental Protection Agency
guidelines and standards to ensure that occupants of housing covered
by this section are not exposed to hazardous levels of radon; and
``(2) to require the Department of Housing and Urban Development
to assist the Environmental Protection Agency in reducing radon
contamination.
``(b) Program.--
``(1) Applicability.--The housing covered by this section is--
``(A) multifamily housing owned by the Department of Housing
and Urban Development;
``(B) public housing and Indian housing assisted under the
United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.];
``(C) housing receiving project-based assistance under
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C.
1437f];
``(D) housing assisted under section 236 of the National
Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715z-1]; and
``(E) housing assisted under section 221(d)(3) of the
National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3)].
``(2) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall develop and recommend to the Congress a policy for
dealing with radon contamination that specifies programs for
education, research, testing, and mitigation of radon hazards in
housing covered by this section.
``(3) Standards.--In developing the policy, the Secretary shall
utilize any guidelines, information, or standards established by the
Environmental Protection Agency for--
``(A) testing residential and nonresidential structures for
radon;
``(B) identifying elevated radon levels;
``(C) identifying when remedial actions should be taken; and
``(D) identifying geographical areas that are likely to have
elevated levels of radon.
``(4) Coordination.--In developing the policy, the Secretary
shall coordinate the efforts of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development with the Environmental Protection Agency, and other
appropriate Federal agencies, and shall consult with State and local
governments, the housing industry, consumer groups, health
organizations, appropriate professional organizations, and other
appropriate experts.
``(5) Report.--The Secretary shall submit a report to the
Congress within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act
[Nov. 7, 1988] that describes the Secretary's recommended policy for
dealing with radon contamination and the Secretary's reasons for
recommending such policy. The report shall include an estimate of
the housing covered by this section that is likely to have hazardous
levels of radon.
``(c) Cooperation With Environmental Protection Agency.--Within 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 7, 1988], the
Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding describing the
Secretary's plan to assist the Administrator in carrying out the
Environmental Protection Agency's authority to assess the extent of
radon contamination in the United States and assist in the development
of measures to avoid and reduce radon contamination.
``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development.
``(e) Authorization.--Funds available for housing covered by this
section shall be available to carry out this section with respect to
such housing.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 2663 of this title.
