at the meeting. After revisions in response to the comments 
and meeting, the final Guidelines were released on June 23, 1976 
with the Director's opinion; and the voluntary moratorium 
on recombinant DNA research ended. The idraft EIS was released 
September 2, 1976. 
II. THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 
A. Summary of Comments and Recommendations on 
the Draft EIS 
Nothing in this draft EIS explains the magnitude 
of the environmental issues raised by recombinant DNA research, 
which many scientists in the field have likened to the issues 
raised by nuclear technology. Both the scope and detail of 
this draft EIS are woefully inadequate. It falls far short 
of being a document on which NIH, other government agencies and 
society as a whole can make basic decisions on whether and 
under what conditions recombinant DNA technology should be 
developed and used. 
The draft EIS as a whole conveys a false sense of 
security. By ignoring the impact of recombinant activities 
which are not supported by NIH and further ignoring the 
possibility that the Guidelines may not be adequate or followed 
in practice, the draft EIS gives the impression that the hazards 
of recombinant DNA are now under control and no further action 
is necessary. The environmental impacts of the Guidelines and 
3 
Appendix K — 129 
