What authority does the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act give to the EPA?

• A. To regulate only the disposal of waste at landfills
• B. To promote voluntary waste reduction programs
• C. To regulate air quality
• D. To control the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste

Answer: (D)

RCRA grants the EPA authority to govern hazardous waste from start to finish, covering generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. This cradle-to-grave framework means hazardous waste must be properly identified and labeled, managed under a system of permits for treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and tracked throughout its life with manifests and record-keeping. The goal is to prevent releases that could harm health or the environment by ensuring safe handling at every step, from the moment waste is created to its final disposition. Air quality regulation, by contrast, is handled under the Clean Air Act, not RCRA. While the agency does promote waste reduction, the statute’s primary mandate is the comprehensive regulatory system for hazardous waste management—encompassing generation through disposal rather than focusing solely on disposal or voluntary programs.