RCRA governs which of the following?

• A. Air emissions
• B. Water quality
• C. Solid waste
• D. Hazardous waste

Answer: (D)

RCRA is built around managing hazardous waste from cradle to grave—from generation to transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. It defines what counts as hazardous waste and requires generators, transporters, and treatment or disposal facilities to meet rigorous standards, obtain permits, and use a manifest system to track shipments. This focus on how hazardous waste is handled is what distinguishes RCRA's core purpose.

Air emissions are primarily governed by the Clean Air Act, and water quality by the Clean Water Act, while RCRA also covers solid waste more broadly, its defining strength is the regulation of hazardous waste. So the best choice is hazardous waste. If you’re evaluating a site that produces or handles hazardous by-products, RCRA rules will guide proper labeling, accumulation limits, storage, and disposal requirements.