Attachment IV - Page 6 
5. EPA currently does not have substantial expertise in 
genetic engineering. How and on what timetable does 
EPA expect to develop its expertise in this field? 
To the extent EPA gets requests for release into the 
environment during the next six months, how will EPA 
handle such applications? During the next year? 
The shortage of substantial expertise in this area is a 
worldwide problem. The Agency's expertise in microbiology 
and environmental risk assessment, as demonstrated by many 
years of experience in registering non-engineered microbial 
pesticides, is applicable to the assessment of engineered 
microbes as well. New questions about genetically engineered 
microbes will primarily concern the properties of the genetic 
manipulations themselves, such as their stability or their 
potential for inter-species transfer or exchange. For these 
questions, the program offices will draw on expertise already 
generated in EPA's ORD through its research projects. As 
mentioned in our general remarks, interagency and academic 
expertise that will be recruited to serve on the SAP subgroup 
and other biotechnology advisory groups will provide an impor- 
tant "pool" of scientific expertise. 
During the next six months to a year, OPTS will rely upon 
the Office of Research and Development and other internal 
Agency resources, scientific expertise available through 
interagency mechanisms, as well as contractors and other 
experts in the evaluation of applications under FIFRA and 
TSCA . 
6. How does EPA think that the talent and expertise in 
genetic engineering currently available in the Federal 
Government can best be utilized to assure that research 
progress and commercialization of biotechnology 
proceed in a timely fashion, while providing for 
appropriate review to insure public health and safety? 
Is additional legislation necessary for this purpose? 
The Agency does not believe that additional legislation 
is necessary at this time. Regulation of biotechnology should 
largely remain in the hands of existing regulatory authorities. 
EPA believes constant attention should be given to the government 
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