This paper presents a study on radioactivity measurements in surface soils around the Catalagzi coal-fired power plant (CCFPP/CATES) near the city of Zonguldak on the west of the Black Sea cost of Turkey. Soil samples were collected from 25 locations around the CCFPP and the activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 in the samples were determined using a gamma ray spectrometric system with an HPGe detector. The mean activity concentrations in soil samples were found as 47, 50 and 440 Bq kg(-1) for Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 respectively. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq), the absorbed dose rate (D) and the annual effect dose rate (AED) were calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. Our findings were also compared with the similar studies done in Turkey and other countries in the world.