For a new pesticide, should the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bear the burden of proof to show that it is harmful to the environment, or should the producer of the pesticide have to show that it is not harmful to the environment? The pesticide is considered harmful if its toxicity level exceeds a certain threshold and not harmful if its toxicity level is below the threshold. Consider the statements, “The mean toxicity level equals the threshold,” “The mean toxicity level exceeds the threshold,” and “The mean toxicity level is below the threshold.”
a. Which of these statements should be the null and which the alternative hypothesis when the burden of proof is on the EPA to show that the new pesticide is harmful?
b. Which of these statements should be the null and which the alternative hypothesis when the burden of proof is on the producer to show that the new pesticide is not harmful?