Edited Due Date: Sorry For The Mistake Purpose Of Assignment

Edited Due Date Sorry For The Mistakepurpose Of Assignmentthe Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze the duties of administrative agencies and the ethics behind regulatory compliance requirements. Scenario: Eric is an Assistant Vice President at marine paint manufacturing plant. One day, he accidentally discovers an email from his boss, the Vice President, to the President, notifying him of an internal study finding the paint leeches from the bottom of boats into the marine environment. The paint has been found to create birth defects in marine life.

He also sees the President's response email, in which he directs the Vice President to erase all evidence of the study and tell no one. The President also directs the Vice President to erase the email. Eric is concerned about the findings of the study, but he also fears losing his job. Create a 350- to 700-word analysis with the following information: Which administrative agency governs regulatory compliance of the manufacturer? What are the ethical concerns regarding the President's actions, and what do you believe Eric should do?

Paper For Above instruction

The scenario presented involves a critical intersection of environmental regulation, corporate ethics, and individual moral responsibility. At the core of the issue is the question of which administrative agency oversees the regulatory compliance of marine paint manufacturing and how ethical considerations should influence corporate and individual actions.

Regulatory Agency Governing Marine Paints

The primary federal agency responsible for regulating activities related to environmental safety and pollution in the United States is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA enforces the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which governs the manufacturing, use, and disposal of chemical substances, including paints that contain potentially hazardous chemicals (EPA, 2021). Additionally, the Clean Water Act (CWA) is relevant because it regulates discharges of pollutants into water bodies, aiming to protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems (U.S. EPA, 2022). Since the paint in question leeches into the marine environment, these regulations would be directly applicable to the manufacturer, requiring compliance with safety standards, pollution control measures, and reporting obligations (EPA, 2021).

Furthermore, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) might also be relevant if the paint contains substances classified as pesticides or biocides, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees workplace safety regarding handling hazardous chemicals (OSHA, 2023). However, the EPA remains the most central agency concerning environmental impacts of chemical products like marine paint.

Ethical Concerns of the President's Actions

The President's directive to erase all evidence of the internal study and the email represents a serious breach of ethical standards. From an ethical standpoint, this action violates principles of honesty, transparency, and accountability. Suppressing evidence of environmental harm prevents regulatory agencies from being informed and impedes the enforcement of environmental protections (Harrington & Saint-Germain, 2019).

This misconduct also undermines corporate social responsibility (CSR), which mandates that companies act ethically and consider their impact on the environment and society. By instructing employees to conceal detrimental findings, the President compromises not only legal compliance but also moral integrity (Bowen, 2013). Such behavior increases the risk of environmental damage, legal liability, and damage to public trust once the misconduct is uncovered.

What Should Eric Do?

Given the ethical breach and potential legal violations, Eric faces a moral dilemma. Ethically, he has a duty to prioritize environmental health and adhere to legal obligations over loyalty to corporate leadership aiming to conceal harmful activities. According to whistleblower protection laws, employees who report illegal or unethical practices in good faith are protected from retaliation (Eisenberg, 2021).

Eric should consider documenting his findings and the directives he received, perhaps by saving copies of the emails securely. He should then report his concerns through appropriate channels, which could include internal compliance officers or regulatory agencies like the EPA. If internal channels are compromised or non-responsive, external reporting may be warranted to uphold environmental integrity and public safety (Mishra & Mishra, 2020).

Most importantly, Eric must weigh the potential risks to his job against the moral imperative to prevent environmental harm. Acting ethically would involve transparency and possible whistleblowing to expose the misconduct, thereby helping to ensure regulatory compliance and environmental protection.

Conclusion

The EPA is the primary agency regulating chemical and environmental safety for marine paint products. Ethically, the President’s cover-up regarding harmful environmental findings contravenes principles of honesty and corporate responsibility. Eric has a moral obligation to report the misconduct through appropriate channels to uphold environmental integrity and comply with legal standards, even if this risks his employment. Upholding ethical standards in this context is vital for protecting marine ecosystems and maintaining public trust in corporate and regulatory institutions.

References

• Bowen, H. R. (2013). Environmental ethics and corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 118(1), 113–124.
• Eisenberg, M. (2021). Whistleblower protections under U.S. law. Supreme Court Review, 45, 189–210.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2021). Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). https://www.epa.gov/tsca
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2022). Clean Water Act (CWA). https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act
• Harrington, J., & Saint-Germain, K. (2019). Corporate transparency and accountability in environmental law. Environmental Law Review, 21(3), 150–165.
• Mishra, A., & Mishra, S. (2020). Ethical considerations in whistleblowing: A legal perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 165(2), 283–301.
• OSHA. (2023). Occupational Safety and Health Standards. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs
• U.S. EPA. (2022). Overview of the Clean Water Act. https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/overview-clean-water-act