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Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
Emergency Preparedness
and Response
In the event of a radiological emergency, responders can instruct the public to take protective actions such as staying indoors to prevent exposure to unhealthy amounts of radiation. EPA developed a manual of Protective Action Guides to help responders plan for radiation emergencies.
On this page:
- Updates to the PAG Manual
- Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
- About the PAG Manual
- Training
- Other Radiation Response Guidance
Updates to the PAG Manual
EPA is seeking public comment on a proposed revision of the current PAG Manual: The update, titled “PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents,” includes new science, expands the document's relevancy to more than just nuclear power plants and incorporates recent guidance on re-entry, cleanup and waste disposal. Comments must be received by 07/15/2013.
- Federal Register Notice of Availability - Updates to Protective Action Guides Manual: Protective Action Guides (PAGs) and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents
- Draft PAG Manual for Interim Use and Public Comment (PDF)(86 pp, 842.86KB, March 2013)
- Submit Comments On Line
- About the Proposed Revisions
Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
Protective Action Guides (PAGs) suggest precautions that state and local authorities can take during an emergency to keep people from receiving an amount of radiation that might be dangerous to their health. EPA developed the PAG Manual to provide guidance on actions to protect the public, such as having people evacuate an area or stay indoors.
About the PAG Manual
EPA developed the PAG Manual-- to provide guidance on protective actions and when to take them. The manual contains radiation dose guidelines that would trigger protective actions like evacuation or staying indoors. The PAG Manual is a planning guide for emergency responders, and does not change federal, state or local environmental standards. Emergency responders can use the manual for any radiation incident, such as spills of radioactive material, the detonation of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or “dirty bomb” or an accident at a nuclear power plant.
Download the 1992 Manual and Supplement
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
The PAG Manual and its supplement are available as downloads in PDF format:
- Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents (PDF) [EPA 400-R-92-001] (274 pp, 13.10MB) for downloading or viewing.
- Implementation of Protective Actions for Radiological Incidents at Other than Nuclear Power Reactors (PDF) (104 pp, 4.11MB)
(Note: This document is not currently accessible for those using screen readers. If you need assistance accessing its contents, please Contact Us.)
Training in use of the PAGs
FEMA's 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.
Other Radiation Response Guidance
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
In addition to EPA’s PAGs Manual, the following radiological emergency response guidance is available:
- White House Homeland Security Council
- Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation (2010) (135 pp, 2.47MB)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Population Monitoring in Radiation Emergencies: A Guide for State and Local Public Health Planners (2007)
- Department of Energy
- Operational Guidelines: Provide calculated, measurable levels to inform decisions on reentry and return for the public and workers during the cleanup stage of a radiological emergency
- Preliminary Report on Operational Guidelines Developed for Use in Emergency Preparedness and Response to a Radiological Dispersal Device Incident (2009) [
- Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment (FRMAC): FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 1 - Overview and Methods
- Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment (FRMAC): FRMAC Assessment Manual, Volume 2 – Pre – assessed Default Scenarios
- Department of Homeland Security/ Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Food and Drug Administration
- Guidance: Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies (PDF)
- Guidance for Industry KI in Radiation Emergencies -Questions and Answers (2002)
- Frequently Asked Questions about KI
- Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food And Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local agencies (1998)
