Perched at over 1,600 feet in the Pocono Mountains, Hazleton's radon story is one of elevation, extraction, and exceptional risk. The city rests on the ancient Pottsville Formation - a 300-million-year-old sandstone layer rich in uranium-bearing minerals. As uranium naturally decays deep within this bedrock, it produces radon gas that slowly rises toward the surface.
From the 1820s through the 1970s, Hazleton was the heart of Pennsylvania's anthracite coal empire. The Jeddo Tunnel, Hazle Brook, and Crystal Ridge mining operations left behind an extensive underground network - abandoned tunnels, fractured bedrock, and subsidence zones that fundamentally altered how radon moves through Hazleton's geology. These mining voids act as collection chambers where radon gas accumulates before migrating upward into homes.
The mountain elevation compounds the problem dramatically. Hazleton's thin soils and rocky terrain provide minimal natural barrier against radon migration. The EPA Zone 1 classification for Luzerne County reflects this geological reality - the highest radon potential category in the United States.
Professional making certified radon mitigation systems essential for mountain community safety.