presumably on the ground that such agencies have greater and more 
relevant expertise on the issues involved. 
A similar approach is called for here. The RAC and the HGTS 
simply to not have the broad expertise, interests or experience 
necessary to grapple effectively with the broader issues 
presented by any given human gene therapy proposal. Accordingly, 
advice on such matters should be left to a committee capable of 
handling such issues. 
It should also be noted that some future human genetic 
engineering proposals may have far reaching implications for, and 
impacts on the human environment. The mandates of the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370 (1982) may, 
therefore, in those instances, require the establishment of 
appropriate interdisciplinary decisionmaking structures. See, 
e.g. , Section 102(2) of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. § 4332 (2) (C); see also 
Section 101 of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. § 4331. The establishment of the 
HEAC will help assure that the final NIH decisions on human 
genetic engineering proposals reflect an adequate 
interdisciplinary review and consensus. 
This marker gene experiment represents the first time man 
will attempt to permanently alter the genetic code of human cells 
by the insertion of foreign genes. We therefore request that 
approval of the pending human gene therapy protocol referred to 
above be conditioned upon the establishment of the HEAC and that 
it be the first such protocol reviewed by the HEAC. 
In regard to human gene therapy, the scientific community 
cannot justifiably disavow responsibility for the application of 
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