CASE STUDY PROJECT ONE INSTRUCTIONS Case 22 in the textbook, page 705, “General
ID: 333971 • Letter: C
Question
CASE STUDY PROJECT ONE INSTRUCTIONS
Case 22 in the textbook, page 705, “General Electric and the Hudson River Cleanup”
Project Tasks
Please write an 8-10 pages’ long essay analyzing and discussing the following topics following the order of Tasks 1 to 6:
1. Task 1 (5 points): Summarize the case. Length suggestion: 1 page.
2. Task 2 (15 points): Identify (list) the ethical issues that have arisen in this case. Please offer some details about each ethical issues (e.g. including what’s occurred, who’s affected, etc.).Please focus on the cleanup of the contamination, rather than the PCB-contamination happened four decades ago. Length suggestion: 1 page.
3. Task 3 (20 points): Identify (list) all of the stakeholders of the company (i.e., GE) in the case, and discuss each of their viewpoints (e.g., needs, desires, concerns, costs, benefits, power, etc.). Length suggestion: 1-2 pages.
4. Task 4 (20 points): Explain in detail which of the stakeholders should be involved and helpful to solve the ethical issues that have arisen in the case, and why, given their viewpoints. Length suggestion: 1-2 pages.
5. Task 5 (20 points): List all of the ethical theories and principles (i.e., ethical principles in Section 8.2 of Chapter 8) that are appropriate for solvingthe ethical issues in this case. Explain in detail why each principle is appropriate for solving the particularethical issue. Length suggestion: 2 pages.
6. Task 6 (20 points): Using certain ethical theories and principles in Section 8.2 of Chapter 8, recommend a plan of action for the company (GE). Explain the expected positive and negative consequences of the plan of action you recommend. Length suggestion: 2 pages.
Explanation / Answer
Summary- The Hudson River PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) cleanup is one of the biggest ecological cleanups in present day history. From 1947 to 1977, GE dumped an expected 1.3 million pounds of the slick fire retardant and encasing into the stream from its assembling plants in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward.
Under a 2006 assent proclaim with the EPA, the organization was considered in charge of the whole 197-mile Superfund site, however particularly required to tidy up 40 miles of the upper waterway. The digging began in 2009 and finished in 2015 with the organization asserting it contributed $1.7 billion on the cleanup. From that point forward, there has been no digging or cleanup of PCBs, a likely cancer-causing agent, in the waterway.
In a draft of the 5-year report discharged for open remark in June, the EPA finished up cleanup endeavours were actualized effectively and touted "empowering" information gathered since digging finished."
Be that as it may, ecological backers and state authorities contend more work should be done to re-establish the wellbeing of the Hudson River, an indispensable wellspring of trade through tourism, transportation and amusement, and say endeavours are particularly expected to clean the lower Hudson, some portion of which streams amongst Duchess and Ulster districts. The cost of proceeding with that cleanup could be in the billions. Some state authorities fear citizens may wind up paying that cost.
Today the Hudson River exists as a standout amongst the most widely contemplated waterways in the nation, having been checked consistently for a time of over 25 years. Progressing assessments of water quality, residue, air quality, fish, and untamed life by the Federal Government and the State of New York showed that the waterway was not cleaning itself and PCBs in the dregs represented a genuine hazard to human wellbeing and the earth. Studies led to assess the degree of the issue uncovered that the majority of the polluted silt were in "problem areas" arranged in a 40-mile extend of the stream between the town of Fort Edward and the Troy Dam.
What is PCB?- PCBs develop in nature (bio accumulate), expanding in fixation as they climb the evolved way of life. The essential wellbeing hazard related with the site is the collection of PCBs in the human body through eating sullied angle. Since 1976, elevated amounts of PCBs in angle have driven New York State to close different recreational and business fisheries and to issue warnings confining the utilization of fish got in the Hudson River. PCBs are viewed as plausible human cancer-causing agents and are connected to other unfavourable wellbeing impacts, for example, low birth weight, thyroid illness, and learning, memory, and invulnerable framework issue. PCBs in the waterway silt likewise influence fish and untamed life.
Ethical issues- The social issues for this situation incorporate General Electric (GE) being impervious to performing endeavors to help with the Hudson River Cleanup. In spite of the fact that the organization confessed to dumping PCB contaminants in the stream, they were extremely reluctant to focus on a tidy up design. They disregarded the way that families and organizations were being influenced by the issue. They didn't address the issue with the worry of improving conditions for buyers this issue specifically influenced. What's more, marine and natural life creatures were in risk. It was accounted for that the PCBs could resort in lacks in real frameworks of the two people and creatures. Morally, the organization is ethically wrong for not settling an issue it straightforwardly caused. Regardless of how helpful the tidy up will be, I feel GE had a moral commitment to tidy up the issue. Their choice to abstain from focusing on a full tidy up design wasn't right and considering the negative social effects the waste could possibly have are both real issues, as I would like to think.
On September 30, 2014 the U.S. Ecological Protection Agency (EPA) and General Electric Company (GE) went into a settlement assention under which the organization will lead an exhaustive investigation of the pollution in the shoreline territories of the upper Hudson River. The evaluated estimation of this examination work is $20.5 million. GE will explore the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) pollution in a 40-mile extend of the Hudson River floodplain from Hudson Falls to Troy, N.Y. what's more, will create cleanup choices.
GE will likewise repay EPA for $3.5 million in floodplain-related past expenses for a sum of $24 million. Also, GE means to pay EPA's cost for directing the examination work.
Administrative order- The authoritative order on consent (AOC) accommodates a thorough investigation of the defilement in the floodplain of the upper Hudson River. This will incorporate a human wellbeing and natural hazard based evaluation of PCB sullying of more than 40 miles of floodplains including in excess of 3,000 properties reaching out from Hudson Falls to Troy, N.Y. The assention incorporates extra testing expected to better comprehend the appropriation of PCBs in the floodplain and will require the advancement of a Feasibility Study (FS) to assess therapeutic cleanup alternatives for the assurance of human wellbeing and the earth. GE will pay for costs brought about by EPA in supervising the work performed. The assessed estimation of this examination work is $20.5 million. Under the understanding, GE will likewise pay for EPA's expenses in directing the work and repay EPA for $3.5 million in floodplain-related past expenses.
Who affected- GE dumped up to 1.3 million pounds of PCBs in the Hudson in the vicinity of 1947 and 1977. The organization has been digging PCB-sullied soil from the base of the waterway since 2009 and expects to expel 2.65 million cubic yards of residue by this fall. Naturalists and neighborhood regions need the cleanup to proceed past that.
Tree huggers were frightened when they as of late found that, from 2004 to 2013, GE had estimated the levels of PCBs in angle utilizing a fileting technique that avoids the rib bone, said Abigail Jones, staff lawyer with Riverkeeper. The state Department of Environmental Conservation requires a strategy that incorporates the rib bone.
Ladies of childbearing age and kids under 15 are exhorted not to eat angle got in the Hudson. Men more than 15 and ladies more than 50 can eat one dinner a month of certain fish — including striped bass, Atlantic needle angle, darker bullhead.
Stakrholders- Stakeholders for this situation are those individuals living close to the Hudson River and are influenced by the contamination of PCBs into the water. These chemicals cause wellbeing dangers and are a negative externality to GE. Their interests are to settle these wellbeing dangers by disposing of contamination. The proprietors of GE are additionally a partner on the grounds that their organization is making real issues the individuals who live adjacent. The legislature likewise holds a stake since its control requires the aversion of contamination. All things considered, the proprietors need to profit for GE. This implies making items at low costs, which thusly ordinarily implies contamination. Notwithstanding, those living adjacent need solid living conditions. Hence, one gathering needs to forfeit something so the other can be in an ideal situation. As it were, the interests are resistant in struggle.
Jack Welch- Jack Welch struggled America's Environmental Protection Agency over the cleanup of the Hudson and Housatonic Rivers, Immelt has situated GE to be a pioneer in contamination control and regular asset administration. He has propelled an "ecomagination" battle intended to advance GE's high — proficiency trains and fly motors, wind turbines, sunlight based power and water-sanitization frameworks, and a scope of cleaner coal advances.
What the Hudson River dispute reveals so clearly is Jack Welch’s strident opposition to any societal rules that impose costs on GE; and his company’s willingness and ability to leverage its economic power into political influence … and to use that political influence to enhance its economic power.
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