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Q5- b-Engineer A is a principal in an environmental engineering firm and is requested by a developer client to prepare an analysis of a piece of property adjacent to a wetlands area for potential development as a residential condominium. During the firm’s analysis, one of the engineering firm’s biologists reports to Engineer A that in his opinion, the condominium project could threaten a bird species that inhabits the adjacent protected wetlands area. The bird species in not an "endangered species," but it is considered a "threatened species" by federal and state environmental regulators.

In subsequent discussions with the developer client, Engineer A verbally mentions the concern, but Engineer A does not include the information in a written report that will be submitted to a public authority that is considering the developer’s proposal.
What are Engineer A’s ethical obligations under these facts? Provide your answers by consider the effects of engineering practices on "health, environment, and safety" for both cases. Choose one of the case.

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Answer:

Based on the provided information, Engineer A is faced with an ethical dilemma. The engineer has been informed by one of the firm's biologists that the proposed residential condominium project could threaten a bird species inhabiting the adjacent protected wetlands area, but the engineer did not disclose this information in the written report that will be submitted to a public authority that is considering the developer’s proposal.

From an ethical standpoint, Engineer A has a duty to act in the best interests of the public and to ensure that the health, environment, and safety (HES) of individuals and the community are protected. In this case, Engineer A has a responsibility to disclose the potential threat to the bird species to the public authority, as failing to do so could result in harm to the environment and the wildlife. By not disclosing this information, Engineer A may be putting the environment and public health at risk.

Therefore, it is important for Engineer A to consider the effects of their engineering practices on HES and disclose all relevant information to the public authority. Not disclosing information regarding potential environmental threats is a breach of ethical obligations, and Engineer A has a moral duty to report the potential threat to the public authority to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the environment.

In conclusion, Engineer A must fulfill their ethical obligations and disclose all relevant information regarding potential environmental threats to the public authority. This will ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the environment and wildlife, and will demonstrate a commitment to upholding ethical principles in engineering practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

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