In 1995, the Environment Division of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, proposed to determine the prevalence of radon on the Reservation. Through a USEPA grant, the Indian Radon Pilot Project was added to our list of available programs.

Roughly 100 Reservation homes were sampled during the first year. Although the majority were at a "safe" level for radon, five homes were high-risk and listed for further testing. When compared to soil maps, these homes were associated with certain soils. On the Reservation, highly permeable soils such as glacial gravels and drumlins are present, among others. This led to the second phase of the study.

Besides resampling the five high-risk homes, 25 other homes were chosen based on soil composition. Later this Fall, when conditions are most similar to 1995's study, testing will resume.

As an ounce of prevention, the Environment Division will be sponsoring a "Radon-Resistant New Construction Techniques" cours