Amherst, Massachusetts 
September 19. 197B 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson 
Director, NIH 
Bethesda, Md. 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson, 
As members of the Tonw of Amherst Study Committee on recombinant 
DNA research, appointed by a mandate from last year's Town Meeting, 
we have been following with concern and interest the evolution of 
the guidelines for recombinant DNA research. The Town adopted the 
NIH guidelines to be the standard for all recombinant DNA research done 
within town limits. 
We are writing this letter as individuals, and our concern is that 
the latest revisions are lacking adequate experimental data. We 
realize that as yet no accidnets have been detected as a result of 
recombinant DNA research, but we also realize that the research is 
very young and that the effects of escape from containment or 
contamination might be slow in becoming evident. 
We urge that more risk assessment be done and more evidence made 
available to the public before the guidelines as now revised are 
adopted. We feel that acceptance of the revised guidelines at 
this time would be premature. 
Also, we feel strongly that before any new guidelines are adopted 
and become the de facto standards a full environmental impact 
statement including the revisions be made public. 
As committee members assessing the potential use/misuse and risk/ 
benefts of this research full access to the above information is 
essential for responsible evaluation of recombinant techniques 
and their possible effects on the environment and in society. 
Sincerely, 
Terri Goldberg 
[A-174] 
