Community/Expert Involvement in Developing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Model

This in-depth case looks at the conflicts that arise in managing and reducing pollution in a community that is reluctant to be involved with government agencies. Ethical issues arise in the case as a result of the consulting engineer's dual role (as paid consultant and unpaid advisor to different groups), the community's suspicion and fear of regulators, the controversial data used to initiate the development of the model, and the bureaucratic nature of the process in which the TMDL was developed. The case was created by Kathryn A. Neeley, University of Virginia; Joseph R. Herkert, North Carolina State University; and Teresa B. Culver, University of Virginia.

Case Study / Scenario|Hypothetical / Fictional Case