Marvin Johnson is an Environmental Engineer for one of several local plants whose water discharges flow into a lake in a flourishing tourist area. Included in Marvin’s responsibilities is the monitoring of water and air discharges at his plant and the periodic preparation of reports to be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources.

Marvin has just prepared a report that indicates that the level of pollution in the plant’s water discharges slightly exceeds the legal limitations. However, there is little reason to believe that this excessive amount poses any danger to people in the area; at worst, it will endanger a small number of fish. On the other hand, solving the problem will cost the plant more than $200,000.

Marvin’s supervisor says the excess should be regarded as a mere “technicality,” and he asks Marvin to “adjust” the data so that the plant appears to be in compliance. He explains: “We can’t afford the $200,000. It would set us behind our competitors. Besides the bad publicity we’d get, it might scare off some of the tourist industry.” How do you think Marvin should respond to Edgar’s request?

Use the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics (see http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/index.html) to respond to these ethical situations.