Which act does the EPA administer to manage hazardous waste?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) is the correct answer because it specifically empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to manage hazardous waste. RCRA provides a framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. The act focuses on the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, ensuring that such activities do not pose a threat to human health or the environment. Through RCRA, the EPA establishes standards for waste management, ensuring that hazardous waste is identified, tracked, and managed appropriately.

In contrast, the Clean Air Act primarily deals with air pollution and regulating emissions from stationary and mobile sources. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), often referred to as Superfund, is focused on the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances but does not regulate the management of hazardous waste in the same comprehensive manner as RCRA. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulates food safety, drugs, and cosmetics but does not pertain to hazardous waste management. Thus, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is the specific legislation under which the EPA operates to oversee hazardous waste management.