Key Issues
Radiation Standards and Organizations Provide Safety for Public and Workers
<< Previous
U.S. Standards
U.S. groups involved with recommending radiation standards include the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and federal and state agencies.
NCRP
The NCRP began its work in 1929 as the Advisory Committee on X-ray and Radium Protection. Congress chartered the organization in 1964 as the NCRP to address the scientific and technical aspects of radiation protection. The nonprofit corporation is not a federal agency, although its recommendations are part of the basis of federal, state and local regulations dealing with radiation hazards.
The NCRP consists of members and those participants who serve on its scientific committees. The organization draws its members from public and private universities, medical centers, national and private laboratories, the government and industry solely on the basis of their scientific expertise. Experts in particular areas of interest form the individual committees.
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for recommending federal guidance on radiation protection for use by federal agencies in their regulatory processes and for establishing standards to protect the general environment from radioactive material under a variety of authorities, including the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Superfund and Atomic Energy Act.
NRC
In 1946, Congress established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to regulate commercial nuclear technologies. Congress abolished the AEC in 1974 and replaced it with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC’s mission is to protect public health and safety. To accomplish this, the NRC prescribes and enforces separate limits on the amount of radiation that workers and members of the public can receive from all pathways, such as air and water. These regulations apply to operators of nuclear power plants, as well as industrial and medical facilities licensed to use man-made radioactive materials. The NRC bases its regulations on recommendations made by the NCRP and the ICRP, and on the EPA’s federal guidance and standards.
U.S. Standards
U.S. groups involved with recommending radiation standards include the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) and federal and state agencies.
NCRP
The NCRP began its work in 1929 as the Advisory Committee on X-ray and Radium Protection. Congress chartered the organization in 1964 as the NCRP to address the scientific and technical aspects of radiation protection. The nonprofit corporation is not a federal agency, although its recommendations are part of the basis of federal, state and local regulations dealing with radiation hazards.
The NCRP consists of members and those participants who serve on its scientific committees. The organization draws its members from public and private universities, medical centers, national and private laboratories, the government and industry solely on the basis of their scientific expertise. Experts in particular areas of interest form the individual committees.
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for recommending federal guidance on radiation protection for use by federal agencies in their regulatory processes and for establishing standards to protect the general environment from radioactive material under a variety of authorities, including the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Superfund and Atomic Energy Act.
NRC
In 1946, Congress established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to regulate commercial nuclear technologies. Congress abolished the AEC in 1974 and replaced it with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC’s mission is to protect public health and safety. To accomplish this, the NRC prescribes and enforces separate limits on the amount of radiation that workers and members of the public can receive from all pathways, such as air and water. These regulations apply to operators of nuclear power plants, as well as industrial and medical facilities licensed to use man-made radioactive materials. The NRC bases its regulations on recommendations made by the NCRP and the ICRP, and on the EPA’s federal guidance and standards.
