An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

Radiation Protection

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 on EPA.gov.

Return to Frequent Questions about Radiation Protection.