Is this an ethical issue and why?

You work for a manufacturing company and are told that one of the line managers made a genuine mistake that led to the discharge of waste material into a local river. Your managing director says that the company cannot afford a large fine and demands that no one reports the waste spillage or mentions it again.

Is this an ethical issue and why?
A . Yes – but only if the waste causes damage to the local environment
B . Yes – the manager who created the spill has behaved unethically and should be disciplined
C . Yes – the company has a duty to report something that might breach environmental legislation and could cause environmental damage
D . No – the leak was a mistake, so this is not an ethical issue

Answer: C