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Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
for Environmental Professionals
The objectives of Environmental
Professionals are to conduct their personal and professional lives and activities
in an ethical manner. Honesty, justice and courtesy form moral philosophy
which, associated with a mutual interest among people, constitute the
foundation of ethics. Environmental Professionals should recognize such a
standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles
guiding their conduct and way of life. It is their duty to practice their
profession according to this Code of Ethics.
As the keystone of professional conduct is
integrity, Environmental Professionals will discharge their duties with
fidelity to the public, their employers, clients, and with fairness and
impartiality to all. It is their duty to interest themselves in public
welfare, and to be ready to apply their special knowledge for the benefit of
mankind and their environment.
Creed
The objectives of an Environmental
Professional are:
- to recognize and attempt to reconcile societal
and individual human needs with responsibility for physical, natural,
and cultural systems.
- to promote and develop policies, plans, activities
and projects that achieve complementary and mutual support between
natural and man-made, and present and future components of the physical,
natural and cultural environment.
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Ethics
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- be personally responsible for the validity of
all data collected, analyses performed, or plans developed by me or
under my direction. I will be responsible and ethical in my professional
activities.
- encourage research, planning, design, management
and review of activities in a scientifically and technically objective
manner. I will incorporate the best principles of the environmental
sciences for the mitigation of environmental harm and enhanceme|nt of
environmental quality.
- not condone misrepresentation of work I have
performed or that was performed under my direction.
- examine all of my relationships or actions
which could be legitimately interpreted as a conflict of interest by
clients, officials, the public or peers. In any instance where I have a
financial or personal interest in the activities with which they ar|e
directly or indirectly involved, I will make a full disclosure of that
interest to my employer, client, or other affected parties.
- not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,
deceit or misrepresentation or discrimination.
- not accept fees wholly or partially contingent
on the client's desired result where that desired result conflicts with
my professional judgement.
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Guidance for Practice as
an Environmental Professional
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- encourage environmental planning to begin in
the earliest stages of project conceptualization.
- recognize that total environmental management
involves the consideration of all environmental factors induding:
technical, economic, ecological, and sociopolitical and their
relationships.
- incorporate the best principle of design and
environmental planning when recommending measures to reduce
environmental harm and enhance environmental quality.
- conduct my analysis, planning, design and
review my activities primarily in subject areas for which I am
qualified, and shall encourage and recognize the participation of other
professionals in subject areas where I am less experienced. I shall utiliz|e
and participate in interdisciplinary teams wherever practical to
determine impacts, define and evaluate all reasonable alternatives to
proposed actions, and assess short-term versus long-term productivity
with and without the project or action.
- seek common, adequate, and sound technical
grounds for communication with and respect for the contributions of
other professionals in developing and reviewing policies, plans,
activities, and projects.
- determine that the policies, plans, activities
or projects in which I am involved are consistent with all governing
laws, ordinances, guidelines, plans, and policies, to the best of my
knowledge and ability.
- encourage public participation at the earliest
feasible time in an open and productive atmosphere.
- conduct my professional activities in a manner
that ensures consideration of technically and economically feasible
alternatives.
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Encourage Development of
the Profession
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- assist in maintaining the integrity and
competence of my profession.
- encourage education and research, and the
development of useful technical information relating to the
environmental field.
- be prohibited from lobbying in the name of the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals.
- advertise and present my services in a manner
that avoids the use of material and methods that may bring discredit to
the profession.
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