5 
to the NIH on this matter, and summaries of meetings with representatives 
from Government, Departments, and Agencies, Congressional staff, and 
industry. The Decision of the Director, NIH, that accompanied the 
release of the guidelines in June is based on that record. 
Steps are underway for further opportunity for debate, scrutiny, 
and subsequent decisions relevant to the guidelines. The guidelines 
were published in the Federal Register on July 7, and a 120 days' period 
was allowed for comment. Further, in response to the recommendations of 
public commentators, the NIH undertook an environmental impact assessment 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. A 
draft environmental impact statement was published in the Federal Register 
on Thursday, September 9, 1976, for public comment. The statement was 
given widespread distribution to interested environmental Federal, 
State, and local groups for comment. In this way, yet another review 
will be provided from the perspective of the environmental impact of 
this research. 
Application to Public and Private Sector 
The Department and NIH have given high priority to the implementation 
of the NIH guidelines and their application beyond the NIH. A meeting 
was held with representatives of relevant HEW agencies and other depart- 
ments of the Federal Government on April 8. The purpose was to exchange 
information on recombinant DNA research and to discuss the applicability 
of NIH guidelines to research or regulatory activities of other depart- 
ments and agencies. 
[ 817 ] 
