DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
orncE or the secretary 
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20250 
AUG 2 2 B78 
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. 
Director, National Institutes of Health 
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr 
. Fredrickson: 
ou *£or your le 
Thank you Tor your letter of August 3 and the three documents 
published by NIH for public comment: (1) Decision of the 
Director, (2) Proposed Revised Guidelines — NIH, and 
(3) Environmental Impact Assessment. 
II 
I was pleased the report of the Risk Assessment Workshop of 
Agricultural Pathogens was included and that it has been 
Incorporated into the proposed revised guidelines. Specific 
comments on Section III of the guidelines will be forwarded to 
you in early September. 
II 
The revised guidelines would permit certain recombinant DNA 
experiments that have the potential for enhancing food and fiber 
production significantly. We are, therefore, supportive of their 
early approval. 
Sincerely, 
li. P"PERT CUTLER 
At'tl . '.r !: S ecretaxy for 
[A-35] 
