Hazardous air pollutants are pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health problems, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and ecological effects. Radionuclides are among those pollutants.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to regulate airborne emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) (including radionuclides) from a specific list of industrial sources called "source categories." Each source category that emits radionuclides in significant quantities must meet technology requirements to control them and is required to meet specific regulatory limits. These standards are the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Radionuclides (Rad NESHAPs).
radon-222 emissions to the ambient air from underground uranium mines
addresses radionuclide emissions, other than radon, from Department of Energy facilities
applies to radionuclide emissions emitted by federal facilities that are not regulated elsewhere
regulates emissions of polonium-210 and lead-210 to the air from phosphorus plants
addresses emissions of radon-222 to the ambient air from Department of Energy storage or disposal facilities for radium-containing materials
regulates emission of radon from phosphogypsum stacks
regulates radon-222 emissions from uranium mill tailings piles that are no longer operational
addresses emission of radon-222 from uranium mills and their associated tailings.
Laws & Regulations
provides an overview of legal authorities for the regulation of air emissions of radionuclide
supplies computer software that aids in the calculations necessary to comply with emission reporting requirements and risk assessments