4 
I considered carefully the responses of that committee to the issues 
raised by the commentators. The NIH will publish a report containing 
the full transcript of the public hearing, the statements filed by public 
and scientific witnesses and the correspondence addressed to me on this 
matter. My decision, which is based on that record, examines each of 
the substantive issues presented with an explanation of my decision on 
each issue. The guidelines being released today contain a number of 
revisions based on that analysis. 
The NIIl guidelines will govern research at laboratories of the NIH 
and those of its grantees and contractors. On the basis of continuing 
discussions with other organizations which are conducting, monitoring 
or supporting this type of research in this country and abroad, we 
believe these guidelines will be adopted by other laboratories throughout 
the United States and that they will provide a base for development of 
similar guidelines in foreign countries. 
The NIH recognizes a special obligation to disseminate information on 
these guidelines as widely as possible. They, and the decision paper 
accompanying their release, will be published forthwith in the Federal 
Register for comment. Copies will be distributed to all who have 
contributed to debate concerning them. Filing of the environmental 
impact statement will provide further opportunity for the scientific 
community, Federal, State and local agencies and the general public to 
address the potential benefits and hazards of this research area. 
[ 572 ] 
