Radiation Control Programs Provide Limited Protection

Gao ID: HRD-80-25 December 4, 1979

A survey was made of the radiation control programs of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and eight States: California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.

Despite widespread recognition of the hazards of radiation, no comprehensive program existed to protect the public from the hazards radiation presents. Federal programs did not cover many sources of radiation and often provided only limited protection in the areas they did cover; some State programs were broad in scope but often lacked depth and received only minimal Federal support. As a result of a study completed in June 1979 by an interagency task force, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare recommended to the President that a Radiation Policy Council be established. On October 23, 1979, the President announced his approval for the establishment of such a body.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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