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About RadNet
MissionTo monitor environmental radioactivity in the United States in order to provide high quality data for assessing public exposure and environmental impacts resulting from nuclear emergencies and to provide baseline data during routine conditions.  |
RadNet has three specific objectives:
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In general, data generated from RadNet provide the information base for making decisions necessary to ensure the protection of public health. The system helps EPA determine whether additional sampling or other actions are needed in response to particular releases of radioactivity to the environment. RadNet can also provide supplementary information on population exposure, radiation trends, and other aspects of releases. |
HistoryThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established RadNet (previously known as ERAMS) by consolidating a number of existing radiation monitoring networks. The RadNet program was initially responsible for monitoring radiation associated with nuclear weapons testing, but the program was later expanded to include monitoring radiation emergencies, following trends in environmental radioactivity levels, and providing data for dose calculations. During the years since it began, RadNet has developed an important environmental radiation database containing almost thirty years of data. These data have been accessed and studied to provide information about releases of radioactivity to the environment, from weapons tests and nuclear accidents to natural releases such as fires around a DOE site. |
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| Chronology | Events | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Executive Order 10831 is Announced to the Public | Executive order 10831 is announced to the public on July 31, 1959, and is issued August 4, 1959. This order comes in response to recommendations contained in a memorandum to the President from Elmer B. Staats on July 31, 1959. As reiterated before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy by Maurice H. Stans, these recommendations also become a part of the legislative history of the 1959 amendments to the Atomic Energy Act. Radioactive fallout and environmental radiation monitoring become a responsibility of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under these legal mandates. | ||
| 1970 | Monitoring Responsibilities are Transferred to the US EPA | In 1970, Reorganization Plan No. 3 transfers HEW's fallout and radioactive monitoring responsibilities to the Environmental Protection Agency. On July 1, 1973, through its Office of Radiation Programs, the EPA develops and implements a new continuous monitoring system. This system, termed ERAMS, is designed to complete and compliment the monitoring system previously instituted by HEW's Public Health Service under Executive Order 10831. | ||
| 1973 | ERAMS is Implemented by the US EPA | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes ERAMS by consolidating a number of existing radiation monitoring networks (Radiation Alert Network, Tritium Surveillance System, Interstate Carrier Drinking Water Program, Pasteurized Milk Network). | ||
| 1976-1977 | Chinese Weapons Tests | ERAMS provides information about the weapons tests and reports significant releases of radioactivity into the environment. | ||
| 1986 | Chernobyl Accident | ERAMS provides information about the accident and reports increased levels of radioactivity in the environment. | ||
| 1999/2000 | Fires near Los Alamos and Hanford | During the fires near the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Hanford Reservation, air is sampled for radioactive particulates. The results of these samples are compared to regional and national results from the ERAMS program to determine if abnormal radiation levels exist. | ||
| 1973 to Present | Environmental Radiation Data (ERD) | Continuous quarterly publication of data in hard copy and online at http://www.epa.gov/narel/RadNet/erdonline.html. | ||
| 2005 | ERAMS becomes RadNet | Name changed to reflect new mission | ||
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Future Direction of RadNet The program is continuously updated as new potential exposure sources are developed. The latest reconfiguration plan for RadNet, among other things, involves increasing the number of monitoring sites. |
National
environmental radiation monitoring is perhaps more important now
than ever. The events of September 11, 2001 have significantly intensified
concerns about potential nuclear releases into the environment.
As a result, RadNet is being reevaluated and plans are in place
to upgrade 
the
system to increase geographical coverage and provide the best data
possible to support national decision makers during emergencies.
In addition, over the last several years RadNet has been reviewed
by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) to help assure that the system
meets its objectives and the Agency's and public's needs in the
future. The SAB has stressed good science principles in an attempt
to assure that the data produced by the monitoring system are of
optimal quality and reliability. In 2002, a searchable data base
comprised of many years of RadNet data became available online for
use by professionals and for public information.