UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
BEFORE THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE 
PETITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, INC. 
AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC. 
TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE 
TO HOLD HEARINGS AND PROMULGATE REGULATIONS UNDER 
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT GOVERNING RECOMBINANT 
DNA ACTIVITIES 
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Natural 
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) hereby petition the Secretary 
of Health, Education and Welfare (hereafter "the Secretary") 
under the authority granted him by 5361 of the Public Health 
Services Act (42 U.S.C. 5264) to hold public hearings and 
y 
promulgate regulations governing recombinant DNA research 
and technology in which fragments of DNA from different 
organisms, cells or viruses are combined in novel ways and 
introduced into a living host organism or cell. 
1/ DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical substance which 
contains all genetic information. 
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