Which federal act regulates the management of hazardous waste in the United States?

Which federal act regulates the management of hazardous waste in the United States?

• A. Clean Water Act
• B. Clean Air Act
• C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Answer: (C)

Managing hazardous waste requires a system that covers its generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and final disposal from cradle to grave. The act that establishes this comprehensive framework is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. It sets criteria for hazardous waste definitions, requires permits for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and uses a manifest system to track waste shipments. It also assigns responsibility to generators and managers to prevent improper handling and ensure proper disposal. The other acts address different environmental concerns: the Clean Water Act governs discharges of pollutants to surface waters; the Clean Air Act controls air emissions; CERCLA focuses on cleaning up abandoned or contaminated sites and responding to spills, rather than governing ongoing hazardous waste management.

Managing hazardous waste requires a system that covers its generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and final disposal from cradle to grave. The act that establishes this comprehensive framework is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. It sets criteria for hazardous waste definitions, requires permits for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and uses a manifest system to track waste shipments. It also assigns responsibility to generators and managers to prevent improper handling and ensure proper disposal.

The other acts address different environmental concerns: the Clean Water Act governs discharges of pollutants to surface waters; the Clean Air Act controls air emissions; CERCLA focuses on cleaning up abandoned or contaminated sites and responding to spills, rather than governing ongoing hazardous waste management.