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$1.9 Million to Improve State Radiation Laboratories

Release Date: 01/08/2009
Contact Information: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355, ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. – Jan. 8, 2009) Although accidental release of radioactive materials is very rare, EPA is ready to respond to protect public health and the environment. EPA also works with state and local officials to enhance their response capabilities. In a pilot project, EPA recently awarded cooperative agreements totaling $1.9 million to three state radiation laboratories to improve fast collection of important data.

The awardees are the Connecticut Department of Public Health Laboratory, the Texas Department of State Health Services Radiological Laboratory, and the Washington Department of Health Public Health Laboratories. These labs will improve their existing radioanalytical capability by adding laboratory instruments and supplies, training on laboratory incident response operations, conducting proficiency testing studies, and conducting laboratory emergency response operations audits.

Information on EPA response to radiological emergencies: https://www.epa.gov/radiation/rert