Coordinate research priorities to ensure that
research is conducted and funded by the appro-
priate agencies under guidelines developed by
the Committee.

Assure that the research needs of the regulatory
agencies are addressed on a timely basis.

Review agency radiation research budgets and
report by September 15 each year to the Office
of Management and Budget and the Office of
Science and Technology Policy on the adequacy
of support for such radiation research and the
appropriateness of the allocation of research
funds among the Federal agencies.

Develop criteria for Federal radiation research
management following a review of the current and
past programs by the National Academy of Sciences.
Provide a point of contact on radiation research
issues for persons outside of the Federal govern-
ment and seek their advice, consultation, and
participation in the work of the Committee in
accord with the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
as amended, where appropriate.

Provide, upon request, assistance to the Task
Force on Compensation, chaired by the Department
of Justice.

Perform other activities related to radiation
research consistent with the Charter of the
Committee, as requested by the Congress, or as
directed by the President.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Chair of the Committee shall consult regularly with the Chair of the Radiation Policy Council, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

A proposed Charter for the Committee should be presented to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for their approval prior to March 1, 1980. A report on the activities of the Committee shall be sent to me no later than January 31 of each year.

The Committee shall terminate four years from today unless extended by Presidential Directive.

I am directing all Federal agencies to cooperate fully in the efforts of the Committee. In particular, all Federal agencies should consult with the Committee before making commitments to fund research into the biological effects of ionizing radiation.

Your memorandum of February 21 instructs me to establish an Interagency Radiation Research Committee to coordinate radiation research throughout the Federal Government. I would like to inform you of the actions I have taken to implement your directives.

I have initiated the steps necessary to establish the
Committee and have by memorandum advised the relevant
departments and agencies of this fact. In addition to
the agencies specified in your memorandum, I have asked
for representation from other agencies of government with
responsibility for research in or regulation of ionizing
radiation.

As you requested, a draft charter for the Committee has
been completed and sent to the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget for review.

• I have asked the Director of the National Institutes of
Health to serve as Chairperson of the Committee.

I shall keep you informed of the progress made toward the objectives you have identified for the Committee as soon as the Committee is chartered and other agencies have named their representatives to it.

THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

WASHINGTON. D. c. 20201

MAR 3 1980

MEMORANDUM FOR

THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
THE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

SUBJECT:

Interagency Radiation Research Committee

On February 21, 1980, the President instructed me to establish an
Interagency Radiation Research Committee. In the President's memorandum,
I was asked to present the proposed charter for this Committee to you for
approval.

In response to the President's directive, enclosed are:

1. A proposed charter for the Interagency Committee (Tab A);

2.

3.

A roster of the present Committee on Federal Research Into the
Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (Tab B); and

A memorandum to departments and agencies requesting nominations
of members to serve on the Interagency Radiation Research
Committee (Tab C). In addition to the departments and agencies.
which received the President's memorandum, the following
agencies (most of which are represented on the present
Committee on Federal Research Into the Biological Effects of
Ionizing Radiation) have also been requested to designate
members:

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Transportation

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Federal Emergency Management Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Nuclear Regulatory Commission

I would appreciate receiving your review of these documents as
expeditiously as possible so that we can proceed to charter the
Committee within a month.

Enclosures:

Wather J. Strat

Patricia Roberts Harris

Tab A - Proposed Charter [See final for IRRC, p.22]

Tab B Roster of Existing Committee on Federal Research Into the
Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (FRIBEIR) [See p.ii for
IRRC members; p.641 for FRIBEIR committee members.]

Tab C Memorandum from the Secretary to Departments and Agencies [See p.7]

SUBJECT:

THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

THE SECRETARY OF LABOR

THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

Interagency Radiation Research Committee

On February 21, 1980, the President instructed me to establish an Interagency Radiation Research Committee (Tab A) and asked several of you to designate representative(s) to serve on the Committee. I have informed the President that I have added a number of other agencies with responsibilities in this area to the Committee. Accordingly, I would like you to designate as soon as possible representatives to serve on it.

I am enclosing a copy of a draft charter for the Committee (Tab B).
This has been submitted by the Department for review to the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget.

The President expects the Committee to assure that the Federal
research program studying the biological effects of ionizing radiation
is comprehensive and is carried out efficiently, objectively, openly,
and in accord with the highest scientific standards. The Committee must
also make provisions so that regulatory agencies have the research base
to set appropriate standards for protecting the public and the environ-
ment from avoidable radiation exposures.

This Committee serves as the successor to the Committee on Federal Research into the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation. The latter was chartered on June 8, 1979, by the Secretary of HEW to address the needs of the Administration and the concerns and interests of the Congress. The Director of the National Institutes of Health currently chairs that Committee.