Which federal agency regulates hazardous waste management in the United States?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary federal agency responsible for regulating hazardous waste management in the United States. Established through the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, the EPA's mission includes protecting human health and the environment by enforcing regulations related to environmental laws, including the management of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA oversees the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste to ensure activities comply with environmental standards, thereby safeguarding public health and the environment.

Other agencies like OSHA focus primarily on workplace safety and health regulations, which may indirectly relate to hazardous waste but do not regulate waste management practices. Similarly, while the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) operates at the state level and may impose its own regulations regarding hazardous waste, it is not a federal agency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deals with disaster response and recovery, rather than the management of hazardous waste. Thus, the EPA is the correct answer as it is directly responsible for creating and enforcing regulations concerning hazardous waste in the country.