Real-Life Decision Making
Pollution has become a very serious problem. A toxicologist is someone
who is very interested in the environment. They check unhealthy
practices anywhere from the local nuclear power plant to your own backyard.
For some time now, the lakes and streams in and around the town of Wells
Falls have been in a bad way. A considerable number of trout, frogs and water
snakes have been found dead or sick. Scientific samplings revealed an unusually
high level of radioactive material in the waters.
You are the area's leading toxicologist. You have been called in to
investigate the nuclear power plant in Wells Falls.
The plant owner, Mr. Shafto, is eager to please during your day-long investigation.
You are interested in his waste bay. That's the building where all the
waste material is stored.
"Mr. Shafto," you ask, "how long do you keep your waste just lying around
like that?"
"I guess that stuff's been there for about 18 months. Yeah, about
18 months. Why? Does it matter? It's in a safe place, isn't it?
Even the barrels that are sitting behind the building by the creek pass our
safety tests."
The law says waste may be stored for up to one year from the date the waste
was first generated. Mr. Shafto's company is in clear violation of this
law.
What do you do?