Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
The Protective Action Guide (PAG) Manual contains advice, planning considerations, best practices, and radiationEnergy given off as either particles or rays. dose guidelines that would trigger public safety measures. Measures like evacuation or staying indoors may be warranted to minimize or prevent radiation exposure during an emergency. EPA developed Protective Action Guides to help responders plan for radiation emergencies.
Download PAG Manuals and Resources.
View Public Communication Resources for the PAG Manual.
View Frequent Questions: Radiological Events.
PAG Manual
The PAG Manual is a planning guide for emergency responders, and does not change federal, state or local environmental standards. The PAG guidelines are only for use during a large-scale emergency, when radiation levels could be high enough to cause health effects unless public safety measures are taken.
The PAG Manual can be used to plan response to a radiological incident. The manual incorporates lessons learned from actual radiological emergencies, particularly from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. Section 2.2.2 of the PAG Manual discusses the benefits and risks of sheltering in place versus evacuation in planning protective actions.
The PAG Manual provides a list of considerations for planning and initiating a cleanup process as the emergency is brought under control. The PAG Manual does not set cleanup levels. One of the recommendations in the Manual is a community involvement process for setting cleanup levels.
In January 2017, the EPA incorporated non-regulatory guidance into Chapter 4 of the PAG Manual that authorities can use to protect residents from experiencing the harmful effects from radiation in drinking water after a nationally significant radiological emergency. (See Federal Register Notice, 82 FR 6498, January 19, 2017.)
The drinking water PAG is a level that can be used to determine when alternative drinking water should be provided and the use of contaminated water supplies be restricted. The drinking water PAG identifies doses of radiation that should be avoided during an emergency event. They do not represent acceptable routine exposures. PAGs apply to emergency situations only. They trigger safety measures—in this case, provision of alternative drinking water—to keep doses to the public as low as possible.
Revisions to the 1992 Manual
In 2013, EPA sought public comment on a revision to the 1992 PAG manual. A key goal of the revision is to update dose calculations based on current science. EPA believes that guidance based on the best available science can help local authorities save lives and minimize the impact of a radiological emergency. Comments were accepted until September 16, 2013. EPA assessed public comments before issuing the 2016 PAG Manual. EPA issued a 2017 version of the PAG Manual that incorporates drinking water guidance.
Significant changes from the 1992 PAG Manual include:
- Applying the PAG Manual to incidents other than just nuclear power plant accidents.
- Referring users to current food guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Providing guidance for potassium iodide (KI) based the latest FDA guidance.
- Providing basic planning guidance on reentry, cleanup and waste disposal.
- Incorporating late phase (cleanup) guidance from the Department of Homeland Security’s Radiological Dispersal Device/Improvised Nuclear Device Planning Guidance.
- Adding a two-tiered drinking water guidance addressing the people at the most sensitive life stages and the general population.
View Frequent Questions: Radiological Events.
Training
2017 PAGs Manual Webinars
A series of webinars was held in 2017 to provide information about the 2017 Protective Action Guide (PAG) Manual, focusing on updates to the guidelines and drinking water PAG guidance.
Independent Study Courses on Radiation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute has two Independent Study Courses on Radiation:
- IS-3 - Radiological Emergency Management.
- IS-301 - Radiological Emergency Response. Unit 5 of this course, "Protective Actions & Protective Action Guides" provides an excellent introduction to the use of PAGs in an emergency.
Radiation Emergency Response Guidance
In addition to EPA’s PAGs Manuals and Resources, the following radiological emergency response guidance is available:
- Nuclear Detonation and Radiological Dispersion DeviceA mix of explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive powder or pellets. Also known as a dirty bomb. A radiological dispersal device is not a nuclear weapon. (RDD)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM), Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, Second Edition (PDF)(2.7 MB)
- Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents (official docket on Regulations.gov)
Assessing Doses
- Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment (FRMAC), FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 1 - Overview and Methods (PDF) (2.95 MB) and FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 2 – Pre-assessed Default Scenarios (PDF) (3.85 MB)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dose Coefficient File Package (DCFPak)
Potassium Iodide (KI)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies (PDF)(39.9 K)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Guidance for Industry KI in Radiation Emergencies - Questions and Answers (PDF)(161.1 K)
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Frequently Asked Questions about KI
Population Monitoring
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Population Monitoring in Radiation Emergencies: A Guide for State and Local Public Health Planners (PDF)(4.0 MB)
Food
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food And Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies (PDF)(231.4 K)
Reentry and Return
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Operational Guidelines(4.27 MB)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE, Preliminary Report on Operational Guidelines Developed for Use in Emergency Preparedness and Response to a Radiological Dispersal Device Incident (PDF)(2.6 MB)