Which federal agency is primarily responsible for regulating radiation safety?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the federal agency primarily responsible for regulating radiation safety. This agency oversees the use of nuclear materials and ensures that the public and the environment are protected from the potential hazards of radiation exposure. The NRC establishes regulations concerning the design, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the handling and disposal of radioactive waste. Through its regulatory framework, it ensures that practices involving radiation are conducted safely and within legal limits.

The other agencies play distinct roles related to radiation but focus on different areas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is primarily concerned with environmental protection and may regulate aspects of radiation as they pertain to environmental health, but its primary mission is broader. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) focuses on workplace safety and health standards and does not specifically regulate radiation safety in the context of nuclear materials. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs and medical devices, including radiation-emitting devices, but it does not oversee all areas of radiation safety as comprehensively as the NRC does. Thus, the NRC's focused mission on radiation safety regulation establishes it as the primary authority in this area.