Radiological environmental monitoring: the EPA approach

Environmental monitoring is a necessity in this Nuclear Age. Monitoring programs, however, must be designed so that needed information is obtained in a cost-effective manner without redundancy among Federal, State, and local agency programs. The approach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitoring is discussed, with emphasis on dose computation utilizing source data, environmental models, and minimal monitoring for validation. The compatible role of State and local agency monitoring programs is also presented.