LG324 DLF2A 2020 Contract Management & Law The Open Forum ✓ Solved
LG324DLF2A2020 Contract Management & Law The open forum is a
The open forum is a unit participation that is separate from the discussion questions. The forum posts will be worth 50 points each. The forum is designed to allow the student to demonstrate understanding and application of the material by performing an analysis of an article relevant to the topics covered during the unit. The student may select any major topic covered, conduct an internet search to find an appropriate article related to the topic, and post an analysis of their findings. The analysis must include how the article is relevant to the unit topics, as well as a critical assessment that demonstrates understanding of the legal concept.
Paper For Above Instructions
The Flint Water Crisis serves as a poignant example of the critical intersection of environmental law, public health, and regulatory compliance in the realm of contract management and law. The sequence of events leading to the disaster began in April 2014 when Flint, Michigan, switched its water source from Lake Huron to the corrosive Flint River without implementing necessary corrosion control measures. As a result, lead from aging pipes leached into the drinking water, posing severe health risks to the community (Masten, Davies, & McElmurry, 2016).
Historical Context and Policy Decisions
The Flint Water Crisis is deeply rooted in policy decisions made by local and state authorities, driven by financial constraints and a desire to cut costs. The creation of the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) by Genesee County in 2011 aimed to provide an alternative water source. However, when Flint decided to treat its water from the Flint River, it failed to follow proper procedures for lead corrosion control leading to disastrous consequences (Zahran, McElmurry, & Sadler, 2017).
Upon switching the water supply, residents quickly began to notice changes in water quality, including discoloration and foul odor. Public health reports indicated alarming levels of lead in the blood of children, subsequently prompting state and federal investigations (Pieper, Martin, & Edwards, 2018). This situation revealed significant structural failures within regulatory frameworks designed to protect public health.
Legal and Regulatory Failures
As the crisis escalated, it became evident that existing laws and regulations were inadequate in preventing such a public health disaster. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which mandates that water suppliers ensure safe drinking water for all citizens, was compromised in Flint due to the negligence in following established protocols for corrosion control (Butler, Scammell, & Benson, 2016). Regulatory bodies exhibited gross negligence by failing to enforce compliance among Flint's water authorities, leading to prolonged exposure to lead contamination.
Moreover, the role of emergency managers, installed by the state to oversee Flint’s financial recovery, has come under scrutiny. These managers had the authority to breach existing contracts and dismiss local elected officials, ultimately prioritizing financial solvency over public welfare (Fasenfest, 2019). This structure allowed detrimental decisions to be made hastily without considering long-term community health outcomes.
Public Response and Adaptations
In response to the ongoing crisis, various community organizations and grassroots movements emerged to advocate for the health of Flint residents. Activists highlighted the urgent need for transparency and accountability from public officials. Research indicated that community advocacy had a significant impact on raising awareness both locally and nationally about lead contamination and its effects on health (Krings, Kornberg, & Lane, 2019).
Furthermore, federal regulations regarding lead levels in drinking water were reevaluated in light of Flint’s plight. As highlighted by Katner et al. (2016), the inadequacies in federal drinking water regulations allowed such a public health crisis to occur, resulting in a demand for legislative review and reform. New measures were proposed to ensure stricter monitoring and enforcement of lead levels in drinking water systems nationwide.
Alleviation Strategies and Long-term Solutions
Efforts to mitigate the ramifications of the Flint Water Crisis have included the replacement of lead service lines and investing in proper water treatment technologies (Zahran, McElmurry, & Sadler, 2017). The use of Point of Use (POU) devices to filter contaminants has also been emphasized as a temporary solution to prevent lead exposure until systemic issues are resolved (Pieper, Tang, & Edwards, 2017).
Despite these interventions, challenges remain in restoring public trust in local water authorities. The significant psychological and health impacts of lead exposure cannot be understated, necessitating ongoing community and governmental engagement to restore the quality of life for Flint residents (Fasenfest, 2019).
Conclusion
In summation, the Flint Water Crisis illustrates the intricate relationship between contract management, regulatory compliance, and public health. The failures observed during this crisis demonstrate the urgent need for reform within regulatory frameworks governing water safety to prevent future occurrences. Moreover, the proactive involvement of community organizations plays a crucial role in advocating for policy changes and ensuring that such a public health disaster will not repeat itself.
References
- Butler, L. J., Scammell, M. K., & Benson, E. B. (2016). The Flint, Michigan, water crisis: a case study in regulatory failure and environmental injustice. Environmental Justice, 9(4), 93-97.
- Fasenfest, D. (2019). A neoliberal response to an urban crisis: Emergency management in Flint, MI. Critical Sociology, 45(1), 33-47.
- Katner, A., Pieper, K. J., Lambrinidou, Y., Brown, K., Hu, C. Y., Mielke, H. W., & Edwards, M. A. (2016). Weaknesses in federal drinking water regulations and public health policies that impede lead poisoning prevention and environmental justice. Environmental Justice, 9(4).
- Krings, A., Kornberg, D., & Lane, E. (2019). Organizing under austerity: how residents’ concerns became the Flint water crisis. Critical Sociology.
- Masten, S. J., Davies, S. H., & McElmurry, S. P. (2016). Flint water crisis: what happened and why?. Journal of the American Water Works Association, 22-34.
- Pieper, K. J., Martin, R., Tang, M., Walters, L., Parks, J., Roy, S., ... & Edwards, M. A. (2018). Evaluating water lead levels during the Flint water crisis. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(15).
- Pieper, K. J., Tang, M., & Edwards, M. A. (2017). Flint water crisis caused by interrupted corrosion control: investigating “ground zero” home. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(4).
- Zahran, S., McElmurry, S. P., & Sadler, R. C. (2017). Four phases of the Flint water crisis: Evidence from blood lead levels in children. Environmental Research, 157.