EPA Regional Radiation Protection Programs
EPA has ten regional offices distributed across the country to ensure that each state is served by the Agency's programs. Several of these regional offices have radiation protection programs.
On this page:
Region 1
Serving: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont , and 9 Tribal Nations
In EPA's Region 1, elevated radon levels have been found in many areas. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas can seep into buildings and dissolve in ground water. EPA is addressing radon in the Region by raising awareness and working with citizens to protect against exposure through EPA Radon Grant Projects.
Region 1 staff assist state and local programs and prepare for and respond to radiological emergencies. In addition they are active in enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 2
Serving: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and 7 Tribal Nations
In Region 2 elevated radon levels have been found in many areas in New York and New Jersey . Levels in Puerto Rico tend to be lower due to a combination of lower levels in the soil and the open style of housing common there.
EPA Region 2 works closely with New York and New Jersey to develop State Indoor Radon Grant Projects to increase awareness, testing and fixing. These States have some of the most highly developed and successful programs in the country. We strongly recommend that you contact them directly to see what programs may help you lower your risk from radon.
Region 2 staff assist state and local programs and prepare for and respond to radiological emergencies. In addition they are active in enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 3
Serving: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The Region 3 Radiation Program protects people and the environment in the Region against harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- providing radiation training and technical assistance to state and local programs.
- providing radiation expertise and environmental and personal exposure monitoring to the Superfund Program during radiological emergencies, spills, and the radiation site cleanup
- evaluating Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency response exercises around nuclear power plants (Region 3 staff also participate in the exercises.) And preparing and executing other radiation emergency exercises.
- enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 4
Serving: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee and 6 Tribal Nations.
The Region 4 Radiation Program protects people and the environment in the Region against harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures where indoor radon is a problem
- providing radiation training and technical assistance to state and local programs.
- providing radiation expertise and environmental and personnel monitoring to the Superfund Program during radiological emergencies, spills, and the radiation site cleanup
- evaluating Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency response exercises around nuclear power plants (Region 4 staff also participate in the exercises.) And preparing and executing other radiation emergency exercises.
- Enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 5
Serving: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin and 35 Tribal Nations.
The EPA's Region 5I Radiation Protection Program protects people and the environment from harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- developing protection criteria, standards, and policies
- working with other programs within EPA and other agencies to control radiation exposure
- providing technical assistance to states within Region 5
- monitoring environmental radiation and responding to radiological emergencies
- evaluating and assessing the overall risk and impact of radiation in the environment.
- Enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 6
Serving: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and 66 Tribal Nations.
The EPA Region 6 Radiation Protection Program protects people and the environment from harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- regulating radiation emissions and providing guidance on radiation protection policy
- measuring environmental radiation levels and evaluating the impact of radiation on public health
- responding to emergencies involving radiation
- working with state and local governments and industry groups to reduce harmful levels of radiation providing information to the public enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 7
Serving: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and 9 Tribal Nations.
The EPA's Region 7 radiation protection staff helps protect the region's people and environment from harmful exposure to radiation from nuclear waste, releases of radiation to the air, and naturally occurring radioactive materials.
The Region's radiation protection activities are housed in the Radiation, Asbestos, Lead and Indoor Programs Branch. Their activities assist federal, state, local, and tribal governmental agencies several ways:
- providing technical support for site-specific radiation problems
- preparing for and responding to radiation emergencies
- coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Region 7 office
- evaluating emergency preparedness exercises for the six nuclear power plants that affect Region 7 as part of FEMA's Regional Assistance Committee
- managing the radiation safety program, acting as Region
7's Radiation Safety Officer
- providing technical training to staff and partners
- monitoring radiation exposure of individuals who work with radioactive materials through the radiation detection badge program
- maintaining the Region's radioactive materials licenses and ensuring compliance of Nuclear Power Plants with NRC regulations.
- Providing information and assistance
to the public about radiation and radiation protection
issues such as radon
- providing Regional contacts for general radiation and radon protection assistance
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem.
Region 8
Serving: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations.
The EPA Region 8 Radiation Protection Program protects people and the environment from harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- regulating radiation emissions and providing guidance on radiation protection policy
- measuring environmental radiation levels
- evaluating the impact of radiation on public health
- responding to emergencies involving radiation
- working with state and local governments and industry groups to reduce harmful levels of radiation
- providing information to the public
- enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the territories of Guam and American Samoa.
The EPA Region 9 Radiation Protection Program protects people and the environment from harmful exposure to radiation through the following activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- regulating radiation emissions and providing guidance on radiation protection policy
- measuring environmental radiation levels
- evaluating the impact of radiation on public health
- responding to emergencies involving radiation
- working with state and local governments and industry groups to reduce harmful levels of radiation
- providing information to the public
- enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.
Region 10
Serving: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and Tribal Nations.
The EPA Region 10 Radiation Protection Program protects people and the environment from harmful exposure to radiation through a variety of activities:
- EPA's Radon Grant Program that assists states in developing projects to increase awareness, testing, and fixing structures were indoor radon is a problem
- providing radiation training and technical assistance to state and local programs
- providing radiation expertise and environmental and personnel monitoring to the Superfund Program during radiological emergencies, spills, and the radiation site cleanup
- evaluating Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency response exercises around nuclear power plants (Region 3 staff also participate in the exercises.) And preparing and executing other radiation emergency exercises
- enforcing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Radionuclides.