This report describes key accomplishments and program activities during the first thirty years of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) involvement in radiation protection. It is limited however to activities carried out by the current Radiation Protection Division 1 (RPD) of the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) within the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and its earlier organizational formulations. This report provides the context for EPAs key actions and the practical impact of these actions. It does not provide an in-depth policy or scientific discussion; rather, it is intended to introduce Agency staff and other interested parties to historical information on this topic. The Agencys involvement in radiation protection has both a legal and historical foundation. To better understand the origin of EPAs radiation protection activities, the first part of this report, Authorities and Responsibilities, describes the historical basis. It begins with a description of the ongoing radiation protection activities transferred to EPA when it was established in 1970, and continues with information on the statutes that have been enacted over the past 30 years that provide additional radiation protection authorities and responsibilities to EPA. The second part of this report, Program Activities, provides information on key EPA radiation protection activities carried out in response to these responsibilities, and highlights significant precedents for radiation protection established by these activities.

"EPA 402-B-00-001." "August 2000."