Which facility is responsible for managing hazardous substances in the U.S.?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the principal federal agency responsible for managing hazardous substances in the United States. Established to protect human health and the environment, the EPA regulates the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials through a variety of laws, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This agency plays a key role in overseeing the cleanup of contaminated sites and works to ensure that hazardous substances are managed in a manner that minimizes risk to public health and the environment.

In contrast, while the Department of Environmental Quality oversees state-level environmental regulations and enforcement, it operates under frameworks often defined by federal agencies like the EPA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration focuses on workplace safety and health regulations, ensuring safe working conditions but not specifically managing hazardous substances in the environment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is primarily responsible for disaster response and recovery, not the regulation or management of hazardous materials. Thus, the position of the EPA as the leading agency for hazardous substance management is clear.