Step 1: Contextual Framework Pass (Facts)

Section Content:

Facts:
Engineer A serves on the State X Environmental Quality Council.
The State Y Environmental Quality Council conducts a hearing on proposed rules for coal bed methane discharge permits.
Engineer A was retained to testify by a coal bed methane company.
In State Y, Engineer A began his testimony by stating that he was a licensed professional engineer only in State X.
Engineer A then stated that he is employed by the U.
S.
Department of Energy, working in the coal bed methane arena.
Engineer A’s PowerPoint presentation listed his job title with the U.
S.
DOE.
Although Engineer A also provides consulting services, primarily for coal bed methane companies, Engineer A never stated in his testimony that he works for coal bed methane companies.
When asked at the end of his testimony if he was testifying on behalf of the U.
S.
DOE, Engineer A said, “I am testifying on my own behalf.”Later, a newspaper article on the hearing reports that a “U.
S.
DOE researcher” testified at the hearing, and information is later revealed that Engineer A’s attendance at the hearing was paid for by the coal bed methane company through his consulting business.