ran 
W 
Boston University School of Public Health 
School of Medicine 
niM Coaooid Snect 
Bowon. MMMchwcm 0X1 II 
16171 347-60I6 
January 19, 1982 
Wlllian Gartland, Ph.D. 
Diractor 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
National Institutes of Health 
Building 31; 4A52 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
1 am writing to register my absolute disagreement with all 
three proposals (Baltimore-Campbell, RAC, and Gottesman) currently 
being considered for revising the guidelines regulating recombinant 
DNA research. The changes are hasty amd are unwarranted given the 
state-of-the-art dn risk assessment in this area. In particular 
the proposals allow almost any host-vestor system to be used, 
including wild-type E. coli . This is made to order for un- 
intentional dissemination in the environment of organisms 
carrying recombinant DNA molecules. I simply cannot understand 
how any responsible proposal for revision could allow this at 
this time. 
Like many others I support continued, measured, responsible 
revision and perhaps simplification of the guidelines. The 
current proposals do not fall into this category and are an 
absurdity. 
Chief, Environmental Health Section 
DO/sef 
[ 681 ] 
