17 
will coordinate consistent scientific advice across the agencies. The 
BSCC is not an oversight council with statutory authority; it can net tell 
an agency how to proceed. The BSCC has no authority to tell an agency to 
change its views, its review structure, or its regulatory decisions. Under 
the PCCSET mechanism, it is conceivable all the agencies could adopt the 
same scientific guidelines but arrive at very different regulatory decisions 
because of the statutes under vhich they operate. The BSCC will identify 
problems and can provide a forum for the agencies to resolve differences. 
Dr. Walters questioned the ability of a PCCSET ccrrmittee to camunicate 
with the public and the agency committees . Will BSCC agendas be public; 
will minutes of the meetings be public? 
Dr. Healy said PCCSET committee meetings are not generally open to the 
public; however, the agencies will develop policies through agency approval 
processes which usually provide for public comment and participation. 
Meetings of the various agency scientific advisory ccrmittees may be open 
to the public depending on the needs of the agency. The FDA or EPA 
ccrmittees cure more likely to meet in closed sessions to deal with confi- 
dential matters., The NIH and NSF committees will generally function in 
open session. 
Dr. Walters asked whether committees such as RAC would be aware an issue is 
being considered by the BSCC and if a mechanism exists whereby RAC would have 
an opportunity to provide irput on an issue. Dr. Healy said it will be 
the responsibility of the agency to keep its advisory group and the public 
informed of BSCC activities and actions. 
Dr. Rapp expressed concern that five independent RAC-like groups operating 
under different auspices might arrive at different conclusions on the sane 
issue and send mixed signals to the public. In such a situation, the 
public will be confused and its confidence undermined. Dr. Rapp said he 
did not see how the PCCSET mechanism could avoid this confusion. On theo- 
retical grounds he thought it best to have one broad-based review committee. 
Dr. Heady said it is expected that EPA and FDA will be dealing primarily 
with individual commercial applications that will be confidential. RAC 
will continue to deliberate on generic issues and will continue to be 
preeminent in public discussions. 
Dr. Johnson was also concerned about public confidence. The BSCC will 
deal with generic scientific issues but will not be open to the public. 
The degree of public participation provided by RAC will not be provided by 
the BSCC. Recent samplings of public confidence show the public is not 
greatly concerned over biotechnology. He attributed this attitude to the 
existence of RAC as a forum for public participation and scientific input. 
[399] 
