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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. KIM NORTON TO RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD ON MINNESOTA'S BEHALF
WASHINGTON, DC State Representative Kim Norton (DFL Rochester) will receive national recognition on behalf of Minnesota this Thursday, January 10 in our nation's capital for helping make our state a nation-leading model for the prevention of harmful human exposure to radon a natural, odorless, and dangerous gas responsible for 15% of all lung cancer. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing Minnesota for a public health initiative Norton authored last session (HF993) in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), that now requires radon ventilation systems to be installed in all new homes in Minnesota before they are sold.
"It's an honor for our state to be recognized by the EPA for this important public health initiative," said Rep. Norton. "I consider it a great accomplishment for Minnesota, and a unique opportunity to help other states throughout the country achieve similar progress in protecting all homeowners from the dangerous effects of radon exposure."
The event will take place at EPA headquarters in Washington, DC, followed by a Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) Round Table discussion at Johns Hopkins University in which Rep. Norton and MDH officials will discuss the mitigation of radon exposure with leading experts, stakeholders from nonprofit and private sectors, and representatives from Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
"Radon exposure is a serious issue that is often overlooked," said Norton. "By taking the necessary, cost-effective steps to prevent exposure to radon in the first place, Minnesota and other states can be armed with effective tools to promote public health and significantly mitigate the risks associated with natural exposure to this dangerous gas."
According to a 2006 Surgeon General report, radon is responsible for approximately 20,000 deaths per year the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. These deaths are often a result of poor detection and filtration of radon gasses in the home. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest cites the fact that radon gas can travel through soil and enter homes virtually undetected through gaps in the foundation, pipes, drains, or other openings. The EPA estimates that one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. contains dangerous levels of radon gas 1 in 3 in Minnesota.
Minnesota's efforts are now being recognized as a proper and necessary course of action by legislators across the country, particularly the Midwest where radon levels are especially high, to protect people from the harmful effects of dangerous radon exposure.
"Homeowners in states all across the Midwest, like Minnesota, are at the highest risk for exposure to radon," said Norton. "I am very pleased that lawmakers from states like Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and others are seriously considering taking the necessary public health measures to protect their citizens from this silent killer."
Dale Dorschner, who oversees the Indoor Air Unit of the Minnesota Department of Health's Environmental Health Division calls Norton's legislation, "a great opportunity for all Minnesotans to be greater protected from the dangers of radon exposure the second-leading cause of lung cancer." Dorschner went on to say, "Representative Norton's efforts in the Legislature have made Minnesota one of the leading states in the effort to prevent radon exposure. This new law will have a significant impact on public health in our state."
Three years ago a Rochester resident brought this issue to Norton's attention when she was door knocking. Like most people, he was unaware of the harmful effects of radon exposure until high levels of radon were found in his new home. More than that, he was shocked to find that the equipment necessary to protect his home and family from the harmful effects of radon, would cost between $2,000$4,000 to install, when it would have cost less than $500 if it had been installed when the home was built.
"I am very thankful that a concerned constituent brought this issue to my attention," said Norton. "It just goes to show that one voice really can make a difference."
By listening attentively to the concerns of her constituent and working closely with experts at MDH, Kim Norton was able to enact nation-leading legislation that will ultimately save lives and consumer dollars. Those dual benefits are precisely what have attracted so much national attention, and prompted legislators across the country to consider enacting similar laws in their own states.
January is National Radon Action Month. More information about National Radon Action Month can be found online at the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/index.html.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- Its Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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