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.?

Many federal, state, local, industry, and non-governmental organizations play a role in radiation protection. Some (but not all) of these include:

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:

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:

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).