48 
X. 
XI. 
"Since its enactment in 1969, those most familiar with NEPA's operation 
give it rather mixed reviews. On the one hard, it's clearly proven 
beneficial in many instances. In many other instances it's led directly 
to overly elaborate procedures accanpanied by, as we may see in this 
case, seemingly endless and unproductive litigation. As a result, many 
major products have been delayed or impeded unreasonably with little or 
no apparent benefit to environmental protection as a final result.... 
"Two of the major strengths of the NIH RAC review system for reccmbinant 
DNA experiments have been the flexibility and case-by-case approach 
demonstrated here today, characteristics that are well-suited to the 
present canbination of both increasing knowledge and existing uncertainty 
in biotechnology's nascent stage of development. This approach has 
been the cornerstone of NIH's canmendable contribution to reccmbinant 
DNA research and hence to the bicmedical and other societal benefits 
which are within our reach. It shouldn't be abandoned lightly.... 
"While it's clear that NIH will have to comply with NEPA if the Federal 
Courts decide, it's quite clear that it should also resist the temptation 
to apply that statute's often strangling formalities to areas where it 
is not legally applicable. Otherwise, in my view, it would be neither 
wise science nor wise public policy." 
Mr. Rifkin said if NIH does not have regulatory power over industry, it 
should stop reviewing such proposals. "Voluntary ccmpliance doesn't make 
sense . " 
CLOSED SESSION 
The RAC went into closed session to consider prcposals from commercial 
concerns for field testing of reccmbinant DNA containing organisms. 
ADJOURNMENT 
The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m., Friday, June 1, 1984. 
[501] 
