Boston University Medical Center 
School of Medicine 
80 East Concord Street 
Boston, Massachusetts 02118 
Department of Socio-Medical Sciences no 
and Community Medicine October 10, 1979 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson 
Di rector 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
The recent actions of RAC concerning the relaxation of 
rules under which NIH sponsored recombinant DNA research may 
be conducted are of great concern to many of us who have been 
following this issue. The fact that such a major action was 
taken on the vote of less than a majority of RAC members, to- 
gether with the magnitude of the change argues for a recon- 
sideration, and most certainly, the preparation of an en- 
vironmental impact statement as required by NEPA. While it 
is true that the action was supported by many scientists 
(principally those who have a special interest in that type 
of work) there are many more hundreds of us who had no oppor- 
tunity to comment on the proposed changes and who have grave 
misgivings about the wisdom of this action. Moreover, it 
comes at a most peculiar juncture in the risk assessment 
process, since papers printed in ORDA's own Recombinant DNA 
Technical Bulletin and the published Rowe-Martin experiments 
present very worrisome findings. 
At the very least, it is not too much to ask that the 
time be taken to prepare an EIS, as required by federal law. 
I would expect nothing less. 
Sincerely yours, 
David Ozonoff, M.D., M.P.H. 
Chief, Section on Environmental Health 
Boston University School of 
Public Health 
cc: Robert Nicholas, Esq. 
Peter Li bassi , Esq . 
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