Department of Philosophy and Department of Mechanical Engineering

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary............................................................................................................3
1 Background Information..............................................................................................3
2 Organizations and People Involved............................................................................3
3 Problem Statement......................................................................................................4
4 Moral Issues................................................................................................................4
5 Proposal.......................................................................................................................4
Discussion...........................................................................................................................5
1 Conceptual and Factual Issues...................................................................................5
2 Ethical Considerations.................................................................................................7
2.1 Act-Utilitarianism..................................................................................................7
2.2 Rule-Utilitarianism................................................................................................8
2.3 Kantianism............................................................................................................9
2.4 Justice Theory....................................................................................................10
2.5 Virtue Ethics.......................................................................................................10
2.6 Rights Ethics......................................................................................................12
3 Workplace Responsibilities and Rights.....................................................................13
3.1 Loyalty................................................................................................................13
3.2 Responsibilities as an Engineer.........................................................................13
4 Social Experimentation..............................................................................................15
5 Consequences...........................................................................................................16
6 What Could Have Been Done Differently? (Solutions).............................................16
6.1 The US Army......................................................................................................16
6.2 The Three Managers..........................................................................................17
6.3 The Justice Department.....................................................................................17
6.4 RCRA and Associations Related to Hazardous Waste.....................................18
Conclusion........................................................................................................................18
References........................................................................................................................18

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Background Information

The Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland is a US Army facility where chemical weapons

were developed. Ever since World War II, the US Army has used this facility to develop, test,

store and dispose of chemical weapons. The facility, known as the Pilot Plant, had three

managers who were also chemical engineers that were in charge of the development of

chemical weapons.

Periodic inspections between 1983 and 1986 revealed serious problems at the facility, which

include:

1. Flammable and cancer-causing substances left in the open.

2. Chemicals that become lethal if mixed were kept in the same room.

3. Drums of toxic substances were leaking.

4. When part of the roof collapsed, smashing several chemical drums stored below, no

one cleaned up or moved the spilled substance and broken containers for weeks.

On September 17, 1985, an external sulfuric acid tank leaked 200 gallons of acid into a

nearby river, state and federal investigators arrived and discovered that the chemical

retaining dikes were unfit, and the system designed to contain and treat hazardous

chemicals was corroded and leaking chemicals into the ground.

1.2 Organizations and People Involved

Aberdeen Proving Grounds – US Army facility which employed the following three civilians:

Robert Lenz – A chemical engineer who was in charge of developing the processes that

would be used to manufacture chemical weapons.

William Dee – A chemical engineer who headed the chemical weapons development team.

Carl Gepp – Chemical Engineer. He answered to Dee and Lentz.

US Justice Department

Jane Barrett – Prosecuting attorney.

1 Department of Philosophy and Department of Mechanical Engineering, “The Aberdeen Three”,

Texas A&M University, USA, August 2007.

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Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 3 1.1 Background Information 3 1.2 Organizations and People Involved 3 1.3 Problem Statement 4 1.4 Moral Issues 4 1.5 Proposal 4 2 Discussion 5 2.1 Conceptual and Factual Issues 5 2.2 Ethical Considerations 7 2.2.1 Act-Utilitarianism 7 2.2.2 Rule-Utilitarianism 8 2.2.3 Kantianism 9 2.2.4 Justice Theory 10 2.2.5 Virtue Ethics 10 2.2.6 Rights Ethics 12 2.3 Workplace Responsibilities and Rights 13 2.3.1 Loyalty 13 2.3.2 Responsibilities as an Engineer 13 2.4 Social Experimentation 15 2.5 Consequences 16 2.6 What Could Have Been Done Differently? (Solutions) 16 2.6.1 The US Army 16 2.6.2 The Three Managers 17 2.6.3 The Justice Department 17 2.6.4 RCRA and Associations Related to Hazardous Waste 18 3 Conclusion 18 4 References 18 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Background Information1 The Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland is a US Army facility where chemical weapons were developed. Ever since World War II, the US Army has used this facility to develop, test, store and dispose of chemical weapons. The facility, known as the Pilot Plant, had three managers who were also chemical engineers that were in charge of the development of chemical weapons. Periodic inspections between 1983 and 1986 revealed serious problems at the facility, which include: 1. Flammable and cancer-causing substances left in the open. 2. Chemicals that become lethal if mixed were kept in the same room. 3. Drums of toxic substances were leaking. 4. When part of the roof collapsed ...
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