DP1

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP1

Should Engineer A structure the presentation to emphasize only the environmental benefits of the waterfront conversion, omit known adverse traffic, noise, and air pollution impacts without affirmative misrepresentation, or proactively disclose all known material impacts in a balanced presentation?

Before presenting to the City Planning Board, Engineer A must decide how to structure the overall presentation on behalf of Developer F. Engineer A knows the waterfront development will convert industrial land to parkland (a genuine environmental benefit) but also knows it will generate significant increases in traffic, noise, and air pollution. The framing decision determines whether the presentation constitutes permissible selective advocacy or crosses into affirmatively misleading the Board.

Structure the presentation to highlight the conversion of industrial waterfront to parkland and other environmental benefits consistent with Developer F's interests, without proactively raising traffic, noise, or air pollution impacts, while relying on the multi-witness hearing process and other independent engineers to supply that adverse information — provided the presentation does not affirmatively misrepresent or conceal those impacts.

Present a fully balanced account of the project's public welfare effects, volunteering the anticipated increases in traffic congestion, noise pollution, and air pollution alongside the environmental benefits, thereby satisfying the most demanding interpretation of the NSPE Code's objectivity and public welfare obligations regardless of whether other witnesses would cover those impacts.

Structure the presentation in a technically accurate but strategically deceptive manner — for example, by framing environmental benefits in ways that implicitly suggest no significant adverse impacts exist — crossing from permissible selective emphasis into affirmative suppression or misrepresentation of known public welfare harms.

Engineer A — Retained Engineer Presenting Developer F's Project at City Planning Board Hearing