Press Release: Management Advisory: Concerns with Elevated Radon Levels at Naval Support Activity Naples (Report No. DODIG 2024 121)

Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Management Advisory: Concerns with Elevated Radon Levels at Naval Support Activity Naples" to bring immediate attention and resolution to a health and safety issue that could impact DoD personnel.

This management advisory highlights the need for the DoD to develop and implement policy on how to address instances of potential elevated levels of radon in off-base housing located outside of the continental United States. This management advisory also underscores the need for Navy officials to better communicate potentially elevated levels of radon to personnel living in off-base housing in Naples, Italy. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Long-term exposure to radon can increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

"The DoD must ensure that residents of government owned or controlled facilities are provided with the information needed to make informed decisions about their living environments," said IG Storch. "Without effective policy and communication, the DoD risks endangering the health and safety of its most important asset-its people."

To address the lack of policy and communication, the DoD OIG recommended that the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Housing develop and implement policy to ensure that DoD personnel living in off-base housing are made aware of known elevated radon levels at installations outside the continental United States. The DoD OIG also issued three recommendations to Navy officials to address the communication on potentially elevated levels of radon in Naples. The DoD OIG issued one recommendation to the Commander of Naval Support Activity Naples to monitor the execution of contracted radon testing services for all government-owned and government-controlled facilities.

The DoD OIG will monitor progress toward the implementation of these recommendations.