About EPA's Radiation Protection Program
View frequently asked questions and answers related to EPA's radiation protection program by topic.
On this page:
- What other organizations are involved with radiation protection in the U.S.?
- What authorities does the EPA have to protect people from radiation?
- How does the EPA protect people from radiation?
- Where can I find EPA publications related to radiation protection?
What other organizations are involved with radiation protection in the U.S.?
Many federal, state, local, industry, and non-governmental organizations play a role in radiation protection. Some (but not all) of these include:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements (NCRP)
- State radiation protection programs
For more information about how other federal agencies regulate radiation sources, visit Radiation Resources Outside of EPA.
What authorities does the EPA have to protect people from radiation?
EPA’s authority to implement radiation protection programs is derived from Congress and the President through laws, executive orders, and Presidential directives. Other responsibilities are delegated to the EPA through federal emergency response frameworks.
Laws that give the EPA the authority to protect people from radiation include:
- Atomic Energy Act (AEA)
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund)
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
- Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA)
- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Land Withdrawal Act (LWA)
For more information, visit Radiation Regulations and Laws.
How does the EPA protect people from radiation?
The EPA carries out its radiation protection responsibilities through regulations, guidance, emergency response, environmental monitoring and analysis, and collaboration with other organizations. Key elements of EPA’s radiation protection program include:
- Radiation Regulations: Federal laws require that the EPA develop and implement regulations to protect the public from sources of radiation. The EPA is involved with the regulation of nuclear waste, environmental releases from nuclear power facilities, other airborne radionuclide emissions, and radionuclides in drinking water. For more information, visit Radiation Regulations and Laws.
- Federal Guidance Reports: The EPA has the authority to provide radiation protection guidance to other federal agencies. These reports leverage the best available science to promote protection of the public and workers and to estimate radiation doses and cancer risks to the public. Federal and state agencies use the technical information in these reports when developing radiation protection rules and regulations. For more information, visit Federal Guidance for Radiation Protection.
- Emergency Preparedness and Response: The EPA prepares for and responds to emergencies involving radioactive materials. In preparation for an emergency, the EPA coordinates with federal and state agencies to develop plans and exercise response actions. During an emergency, the EPA is equipped to assess the situation, support the states in their response, and assist in recovery. For more information, visit Radiological Emergency Response.
- Monitoring and Analysis: The EPA’s radiation protection program includes a nationwide environmental radiation monitoring system (RadNet), the National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL), and the National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO). Together, these resources enable EPA to conduct nationwide radiation monitoring and perform special analyses in an emergency.
- Collaboration: The EPA coordinates with industry, states, tribes, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations that have a role in radiation protection.
Where can I find EPA publications related to radiation protection?
Many radiation protection publications and technical resources can be found in the Radiation Protection Document Library. A more extensive list of EPA publications can be found in the EPA’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP).