At 05:07 PM 9/6/2002 -0400, you wrote:
Dear Colleague:
As the anniversary of September 11th approaches, AAAS continues to be engaged in issues that relate to national security and the role of science and technology. One such issue is the safe and responsible conduct of research involving biological agents and toxins.
AAAS was recently asked by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assist in alerting our members to the federal mandate (Public Law 107-188) requiring all facilities and persons that possess, use, or transfer agents or toxins considered a threat to animals, plants, animal and plant products and/or public health (called "select agents") to notify the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Approximately 200,000 facilities were sent a copy of the notification form by the CDC.
The deadline for submitting a completed form to the CDC is September 10, 2002. All entities that receive a copy of the form must comply, even if they do not possess a select agent or toxin. If you are in possession of a select agent or toxin and did not receive a form, you should call CDC's toll-free number: 1-866-567-4232.
Thanks Alan but, This slippery slope concerning the ability of only approved researchers able to engage in science has gone too far and has got to stop. I don't accept that the "right of society" to protect itself from a few madmen abusers of technology means we all must carry scientist ID cards. Most of the significant discoveries, until this century, were made by amateurs. Almost all the R&D I did in the 60s and 70s as an amateur are now regulated. If I do any research, using whatever chemicals I choose, I won't be filing no "stinking forms. steve