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  • Secondary containment for oil-filled operation equipment under SPCC

    On December 26, 2006, EPA provided an optional alternative to the general secondary containment requirements in 40 CFR §112.7(c) for qualified oil-filled operational equipment (71 FR 77266). Because the alternative is optional, an owner or operator could choose to comply with the existing SPCC

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  • Does EPA’s RadNet monitoring network track non-ionizing radiation from power lines, transmitters, or cell phone towers?

    The EPA’s RadNet monitoring network is designed to track fluctuations in airborne radioactive particles. RadNet does not track non-ionizing radiation that comes from power lines, transmitters, or cell phone networks like 5G.

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  • What units does EPA use to report laboratory analysis results (drinking water, air filter and precipitation)?

    EPA reports RadNet laboratory results in conventional units, as shown below with their international equivalents: Medium Conventional unit International SI unit Air Filter Curie (Ci) per cubic meter (m3) Becquerel (Bq) per cubic meter (m3) Precipitation and drinking water Curie (Ci) per liter (L)

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  • How does the EPA sample precipitation for radionuclides?

    Samples of precipitation such as rain, snow or sleet are collected at more than 25 stations across the U.S. Samples are collected using specially designed precipitation collection devices which funnel the precipitation into a bucket for transfer to a shipping container. EPA’s National Analytical

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  • Where can I find the analytical results from drinking water samples?

    All RadNet drinking water sampling results are available on the RadNet Envirofacts website. For more information, visit RadNet. Return to Frequent Questions About RadNet.

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  • SPCC requirements for transfer areas associated with exempt USTs

    Gas stations typically are not subject to the SPCC Rule because completely buried storage tanks subject to 40 CFR Part 280 or 281 are exempt per §112.1(d)(4). However, a gas station would be subject to the SPCC Rule if it has more than 1,320 gallons of oil in aggregate above ground storage capacity

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  • What is an oil spill contingency plan?

    Instead of providing secondary containment for qualified oil-filled operational equipment, an owner or operator may prepare an oil spill contingency plan and a written commitment of manpower, equipment, and materials to quickly control and remove discharged oil. He/she must also have an inspection

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  • Secondary containment requirements for mobile refuelers

    What secondary containment requirements apply to mobile refuelers? General secondary containment requirements in §112.7(c) still apply to mobile refuelers at SPCC regulated facilities. General secondary containment should be designed to address the most likely discharge from the container and from

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  • How does the EPA sample drinking water for radionuclides?

    More than 60 drinking water sampling locations reported results in the United States in 2018 as part of the RadNet monitoring network. Drinking water samples are typically collected four times a year from taps and are sent to the EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL)

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  • What do the different gamma channel ranges illustrate? What does each range represent?

    The EPA uses RadNet monitors to track fluctuations in gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive particles at each air monitoring site. Tracking these changes over time gives a picture of the normal, background levels at each monitoring location and allows EPA scientists to detect any unusual

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  • What federal standards exist that address radiation in drinking water?

    Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA sets legal limits on the levels of certain radionuclides in drinking water. These limits are applicable to all federal, state and local jurisdictions, including local city public works facilities. Under SDWA, the Agency established a dose-based

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  • How does precipitation affect radiation levels in the environment?

    It is very common for natural background radiation levels to change during precipitation events such as rain, sleet or snow. While there are many more factors that affect radiation levels than just precipitation, radon and radon decay products, which occur naturally may be captured in the

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  • How often are RadNet’s near-real-time air monitoring data updated on the EPA website?

    RadNet near-real-time air data are refreshed hourly during business hours, Monday through Friday. This hourly refresh ensures that the most up-to-date data are available for the last 24 hours. NOTE: All results are shown in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). To learn more, visit RadNet. Return to

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  • How does the EPA analyze air filters?

    RadNet operators ship air filters from the monitoring location to the EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) for analysis. All air filters go through an initial screening for beta radiation, followed by a gamma scan if the beta activity is greater than 1 pCi/m3. For

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  • Why does the EPA test air filters for radionuclides?

    The RadNet system provides continuous, near-real-time measurements of radiation levels across the country during normal and emergency conditions, and it is the only national radiation monitoring system in the United States. RadNet's laboratory analyses provide greater analytical sensitivity and have

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