What authority did the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment give to the EPA?

The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) strengthened the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to the management of hazardous waste. One of the key components of the HSWA was the provision that expanded the EPA's role in regulating the permitting of land disposal sites for hazardous waste. This meant that before hazardous waste could be disposed of in landfills, the EPA was given the power to establish criteria and procedures to ensure that such disposals did not pose a threat to public health or the environment.

Through this permitting process, the EPA can impose strict requirements on how hazardous waste is managed, treated, and disposed of, thereby minimizing the risk of contamination and promoting better environmental practices. This was a significant enhancement of the federal role in hazardous waste management, emphasizing the need for accountability and compliance in waste disposal practices.

The other options pertain to areas of environmental regulation that, while important, are not directly addressed by the HSWA. For instance, control over wastewater treatment and setting air quality standards involve different aspects of environmental regulation, and managing agricultural waste is typically more localized and often falls under different regulatory frameworks rather than the specific provisions of the HSWA.