35 
Dr. McGarrity said he and the Working Group on Release into the Environment 
believe RAC should continue its major functions at least until such time as 
another appropriate agency or ccmruttee canes into existence. He said the 
future role of RAC will not be decided by RAC members or by scientists but 
by administrators, policymakers, and the legal system. 
Dr. McGarrity then informed the RAC of the responses of the Working Group 
on Release into the Environment to the questions posed by Dr. Talbot. 
Dr. McGarrity said Dr. Talbot's first question is as follows: 
"Should the NIH guidelines be limited strictly to work done in the 
laboratory? In this case, 'release to the environment' including field 
tests would fall outside the jurisdiction of the Guidelines." 
Dr. McGarrity said the working group responded that the NIH Guidelines 
should not be strictly limited to laboratory procedures and laboratory 
studies. The group believed such on action would essentially create an 
oversight vacuum. 
Dr. McGarrity said the second question posed by Dr. Talbot is as follows: 
"Should NIH accept for review only individual proposals funded by NIH or 
only proposals funded by the Federal government? In this case, review 
of individual proposals from industry would fall outside the Guidelines." 
Dr. McGarrity said the working group felt RAC should review all submitted 
proposals regardless of the funding source. 
Dr. McGarrity said Dr. Talbot's third question asked whether: 
"...all portions of all RAC meetings be open to the public? In this 
case, NIH could cease to accept any proprietary data for review and 
such would fall outside the boundaries of the Guidelines." 
Dr. McGarrity said the consensus of the working group is that it is prcper 
to hold closed meetings when proprietary data are discussed. 
Dr. McGarrity said Dr. Talbot's fourth question asks: 
"Should the NIH Guidelines be limited strictly to bicmedical research? 
In this case, agricultural and other studies would fall outside the 
jurisdiction of the Guidelines." 
Dr. McGarrity said the working group responded that the Guidelines should 
not be limited only to bicmedical research but should apply to all 
applications . 
Dr. McGarrity reported that several criticisms of the Gore Report were 
raised during the working group discussion. Dr. McGarrity said he thought 
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