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Lander County proclaims February 2025 National Radon Action Month; free test kits available
Summary
The county adopted a proclamation supporting radon testing and mitigation after an Extension presentation noting Lander County’s average radon level near international health guidance; local test kits will be distributed at county offices and the library.
Lander County commissioners voted Jan. 23 to declare February 2025 National Radon Action Month, endorsing outreach and free or low‑cost testing to help residents identify and mitigate indoor radon exposure.
Heather Neal of the University of Nevada, Reno Extension spoke to the commission about radon risks and local data. Neal said Nevada’s high surface uranium levels increase the likelihood of radon exposure, and that Lander County’s average radon measurement is 2.9 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level of 4.0 pCi/L but near the World Health Organization reference of 2.7 pCi/L cited by the presenter.
Neal described the county’s outreach program and logistics for test kits: test kits are available at the Extension office, the county administration office and the county library in Austin; the kits are free to the public (the presenter said purchased kits would cost about $15 plus lab fees), are charcoal detectors left in a home for 48–96 hours, and are returned by prepaid mail for lab analysis. Neal said uptake in recent years was low in Lander County, though some areas (Austin) showed higher probabilities of elevated results.
Commissioners unanimously approved the proclamation after brief public discussion about kit availability and distribution points. The board asked staff to place additional kits at the courthouse clerk’s desk to replace the library distribution while the library is temporarily closed.
Ending: The proclamation directs staff and extension partners to promote testing and mitigation during February; residents seeking kits were told to contact the Extension office or the county administration office for pickup locations.
