Geologic radon potential of the United States

The Indoor Radon Abatement Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-551) directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify areas of the United States that have the potential to produce harmful levels of indoor radon, based on both geological data and on indoor radon levels in homes and other structures. As part of an Interagency Agreement between the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the USGS prepared radon potential estimates for the United States. The purpose and intended use of these reports is to help identify areas where states can target their radon program resources, to provide guidance in selecting the most appropriate building code options for areas, and to provide general information on radon and geology for each state for federal, state, and municipal officials dealing with radon issues. The booklets are organized by EPA Federal boundaries (Regions) with chapters for each state. Each state chapter discusses the state's specific geographic setting, soils, geologic setting, geologic radon potential, indoor radon data, and a summary outlining the radon potential rankings of geologic areas in the state.