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Life Science - General [1989]
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Life Science - General [1989]
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Allan D. Bromley Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
2005-0336-F
2005-0336-F
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Science and Technology Policy, Office of (OSTP)
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Bromley, D. Allan, Files
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General Science Files
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62039
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62039-004
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Life Science - General [1989]
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O
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 28, 1989
Dear Ms. Ryan:
Many thanks for your letter of December 5 telling me of your
recent activities directed toward responsible use of alcohol
on the part of students. This is an important and serious
problem, and I am pleased to learn of your success and your
cosponsorship, with the Texas Special Olympics, of the
Biggest Party in History.
Many thanks for sending me information about it.
Sincerely yours,
Danan D. Allan Bromley Frantly
Assistant to the President
for
Science and Technology
Ms. Kathleen D. Ryan
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Miller Brewing Company
3939 West Highland Boulevard
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0482
"CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING"
TYPE:
Action Item
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8920655
FROM:
KATHLEEN D. RYAN
MILLER BREWING COMPANY
TO:
BROMLEY
DATE OF
CORRESPONDENCE: 12/05/89
SUBJECT: ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
ASSIGNED TO: James Wyngaarden
ACTION REQUIRED: APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
SENDER'S DUE DATE:
OSTP DUE DATE:
12/29/89
DATE COMPLETED:
COPIES TO: D. Allan Bromley
REMARKS:
DATE RECEIVED: 12/11/89
FILE: NEOB
8920655
MILLER BREWING COMPANY
KATHLEEN D. RYAN
Vice President - Corporate Affairs
December 5, 1989
D. Allan Bromley
Office of Science and Technology Policy
17th & PA Ave., NW, Room 5013
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Bromley:
As you may know, for years Miller Brewing Company has been a
member of the team of those encouraging responsible use
of our product and other alcohol beverages. Our activities
have ranged from support for educational programs--such
as those sponsored by BACCHUS (Boost Alcohol
Consciousness Concerning the Health of University
Students) on more than 300 college campuses--to financing
research into the underlaying causes of alcohol abuse.
Until this year, our participation has been somewhat indirect.
That changed Labor Day weekend with the Biggest Party in
History (BPIH) that Miller co-sponsored with the Texas
Special Olympics. We entertained almost 500,000 people
over two days in six cities.
With this party, we put ourselves and our own reputation
directly on the line by undertaking the responsibility as
hosts to assure that drinking at all events would be
"responsible." By that we meant that only those of age
would be served and no one would be served too much--and
we assured they would get home safely if they should
manage to overindulge.
3939 WEST HIGHLAND BOULEVARD MILWAUKEE. WISCONSIN 53201-0482 (414) 931-2140
You will not be surprised to hear we were a bit nervous going
into that weekend. We at Miller live in the real world, too.
Despite the fact that we believed strongly that the
techniques we were putting in place would be effective--we
understood that, even in the best planned events, something
can go wrong.
Nothing did. The parties were smashing successes--not only
were they fun for the participants but they won accolades
from city officials.
Senator Herbert Kohl (D-WI) was kind enough to give his Senate
colleagues a report on the BPIH. I am proud to share that
report, as printed in The Congressional Record, with you.
You will note that Miller Brewing Company is developing kits and
materials to help other hosts use these techniques to make
their parties sites of responsible drinking, too.
If you have a use for some of these materials, please let me
know. We will be happy to send them to you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen D. Ryan
Kathleen D. Ryan
Vice President
Corporate Affairs
Congressional Record
United States
of America
PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
101ˢᵗ
CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
Vol. 135
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1989
No. 152
A RESPONSIBLE PARTY
First, identification checkpoints were
Mr. KOHL Mr. President, let me
set up. Second, a wristband system was
begin by admitting that I have no idea
developed to assure that only those of
who The Who are-or what The Who
legal age were drinking beer through-
is, if that is the right way to say it. I
out the entire event; specifically. a
gather they are a rock and roll band;
yellow hospital-like band which, if re-
members of my staff, especially the
moved, could not be used by anyone
older members of my staff, tell me
else was issued to those of legal age.
they wrote something called a "Rock
Third, red wristbands were issued to
Opera" about a deaf, dumb, and blind
designated drivers who were also given
kid who, I assume, suffered those
free soft drinks. Fourth, to encourage
problems as a result of listening to
moderate consumption, only 2 cups of
loud music.
beer were sold to any person at one
In any event, despite my ignorance
time. Fifth, all servers were trained in
about The Who, I learned a great deal
intervention methods developed by
when I read about the way the Miller
the Training for Intervention Proce-
Brewing Co., a corporate constituent
dures by Servers of Alcohol [TIPAS]
of mine, handled a 2-day party featur-
Program; this training enables servers
ing The Who which was held in Texas
not only to recognize signs that a
over Labor Day weekend.
drinker is drinking too much but also
teaches them how to best refuse serv-
Billed as "the Biggest Party in Histo-
ry" the event entailed a combination
ice if that is necessary. Finally, free
rides home were made available.
of fairs, festivals and concerts-includ-
And this is not just a one-time con-
ing two performances by The Who. In
addition to giving a lot of people a lot
cern by Miller. I am told that they are
of fun, the party also allowed the
now packaging their plan so that hosts
Texas Special Olympics, which co-
at other parties-whether they be for
sponsored the event with Miller, to
4, 400, or 4,000 guests-can also check
earn $1 million which had been guar-
alcohol abuse.
anteed by Miller.
And Mr. President, that plan can
I was particularly struck as I read
work. It did in Texas. The Houston
the press reports of this event, by the
Post said that Miller "deserved acco-
efforts made by Miller to assure that
lades" for their work. The Dallas
the party would serve to illustrate
Morning News reported that the
that it is possible to encourage the re-
crowds at the concert were "practical-
sponsible consumption of alcoholic
ly angelic."
beverages-especially if a beer compa-
Mr. President, I must say that I am
ny takes steps to make sure that hap-
proud of my constituent company and
pens as Miller did in this case and as
the people who created and mounted
Miller has and will in other cases as
this party plan. Clearly it was a very
well.
visible demonstration that Miller in
In this particular case, Miller
particular, and the beer industry in
worked out an elaborate system of
general, can help people learn how to
safeguards to assure that their half
drink responsibly. I may not know who
million guests had a good time at the
The Who is, but I do know that Miller
party and a safe trip home. Let me
has done a good job of helping to pro-
identify some of the steps they took.
mote responsibility. I commend them
and I encourage the entire industry to
continue this effort.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 28, 1989
Dear Ralph:
I will be delighted to receive the advance copy of your
piece in the Health Physics NEWSLETTER and am pleased to
have the copy of the policy statement from the Health
Physics Society urging caution in decisions on indoor radon.
It is very important to have statements of this kind issued
by authoritative sources, and in this case, there is none
better than the Health Physics Society.
Vic Bond always has had a firm grip on the real world, and
it was good to get the quote from him.
With all best wishes for the holiday season and the new
year,
Sincerely yours,
Anam
D. Allan Bromley
Assistant to the President
for
Science and Technology
Dr. Ralph E. Lapp
7215 Park Terrace Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22307
8920635
7215 PARK TERRACE DRIVE
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
22307
4 Dec 1989
Dear Allan:
In your letter of December 1st you ask for permission to use
my paper "Radon Risk Estimates". Please feel free to do SO.
A somewhat lengthier version is in press for the January
issue of the Health Physics NEWSLETTER and I will be happy
to send you an advance copy.
Enclosed is a draft [hopefully the final version] of a policy
statement to be issued by the Health Physics Society. As you
are well aware, professional inertia in "going public" is
immense, but many members of the Society feel strongly about
the radon issue and are pressing for a public policy statement.
I share your concern that Americans are blanketed by a radio-
phobia that distorts perception of radiation risk. The situa-
tion is so bad that Vic Bond wrote to me:
"I would certainly like to see the EPA confronted
and reined in, not only with respect to radon, but in
other areas as well in which their ridiculous restric-
tions are mandating remedial actions at astronomical
costs."
Sincerely,
Raigh
R.E. Lapp
Dr. D. Allan Bromley
Assistant to the President
for
Science and Technology
The White House
Washington
HEALTH PHYSICS SOCIETY URGES CAUTION
IN DECISIONS ON INDOOR RADON
Homeowners and Public Officials Need the Full Story on Radon
Inadequate information on radon health risks and the meaning of screening
measurements is leading many homeowners to spend money on reducing indoor
radon that may not significantly reduce their risk of lung cancer. The widely
publicized estimate of 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year due to indoor radon implies
that reductions in radon could save 20,000 lives a year. This will not happen
because more than 70 percent of those estimated deaths are due to the combined
effects of radon and cigarette smoking. Homeowners should understand that
reductions in radon levels alone may not reduce the total number of lung cancer
deaths in the United States. Public officials should know that the appearance of a
national radon problem is greatly exaggerated when EPA's screening measurements
are used to assess the extent of the problem.
To clarify radon issues for homeowners, the Society recommends that the
Federal Government publish its plans for indoor radon control and provide
opportunity for public review. In addition, the Society urges homeowners to seek
information on radon risks related to smoking, age, and home occupancy before
making expensive decisions on indoor radon.
The Risks from Indoor Radon Are Questionable
Although more than the expected number of lung cancer deaths were
observed in underground miners exposed to high levels of radon, the evidence for
linking lung cancer with radon levels normally found in homes is less proven. The
often quoted estimate of 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year from indoor radon is
substantially higher than estimates of the National Academy of Sciences or the
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
Most Radon Risks are Related to Cigarette Smoking
The National Academy of Sciences finds that smokers have ten times more
risk of lung cancer than nonsmokers, when exposed to the same levels of radon.
Therefore, assuming that as many as 10,000 lung cancer deaths might be due to
indoor radon in the overall U.S. population of 240 million, 70% or 7,000 of these
deaths will likely occur in the 50 million smokers. The Surgeon General recently
reported that 390,000 deaths occurred in 1985 due to cigarette smoking. Lung
cancers account for 106,000 of these deaths among smokers and another 3,800
among nonsmokers exposed to tobacco smoke. Homeowners should be advised that
if they have a cigarette smoker in their home, reductions in radon levels may not
significantly reduce lung cancer risk to family members, because cigarette smoking
remains as the primary cause of lung cancer.
Health Physics Society
1
April 4, 1989
Screening Measurements Exaggerate Radon Risk Estimates
Health physicists are concerned about the widespread misunderstanding of
screening measurements. The screening measurements, recommended by EPA to
detect possible radon problems, cannot be used in place of actual exposure
measurements for estimating radon health risks. Screening measurements are
intended to detect the highest possible radon level in a home, usually in a basement
with little ventilation during the winter. For realistic risk estimates, radon should be
measured in the rooms where people spend the most time (such as the bedroom or
family room), and at several times to reflect the average radon level for each season.
Homeowners should understand that EPA's radon risk estimates are based upon
large numbers of people exposed to a constant level of radon, 18 hours a day, for 70
years in the same house. Therefore, a single measurement in a basement may have
no relation to actual exposures over a 70 year lifetime and could grossly
overestimate radon health risks. The ,appearance of a national radon health
problem will be greatly exaggerated when screening measurements are used to
assess the problem.
A Nationwide Program to Reduce Radon Levels in Homes is
Unlikely to Reduce Observable Lung Cancer Deaths
In the 4 million homes estimated to exceed EPA's action guideline of 4 pCi
of radon per liter of air, up to 4000 lung cancer deaths a year could be calculated, if
the same people occupy these homes for 70 years. Of these deaths, at least 3000 will
occur in smokers who will remain at high risk even if radon is removed. One of
every six smokers will risk premature death from a variety of diseases related to
smoking. For nonsmokers, 1,000 lung cancer deaths could be prevented, if the
radon in all 4 million homes above the action level is reduced to near outdoor
levels. A nationwide program to accomplish this goal will cost several billion
dollars, but the results are not likely to show up in lung cancer statistics for decades,
if at all. The latency period from radon exposure to lung cancer is at least ten years
or longer. Also, lung cancer is a disease which usually occurs only after age 35,
therefore the younger age population will not see any benefit from radon reductions
until after that age. Furthermore, a decrease of 1000 lung cancer deaths is only a
one percent change in the normal incidence of lung cancers due mainly to cigarette
smoking. It is unlikely that a one percent change in lung cancer deaths in 10 to 30
years will be traceable to a radon reduction program. The most effective measure
to reduce lung cancers in the U.S. is to reduce cigarette smoking.
The Health Physics Society Recommends that the Federal
Government Publish Its Plans for Indoor Radon Control and
Provide Opportunities for Public Review
Since the Federal government stated that indoor radon is a serious national
health problem, called for every home, school, and Federal building to be surveyed,
the Society believes the government should publish a comprehensive document to
justify its actions and plans for public review. All elements of an environmental
impact statement should be considered, including public input to final decisions.
There should be full public discussion of radon health risk estimates, the role of
cigarette smoking, economic impacts to individuals and society, effects on real estate
transactions, and expected health benefits of alternative actions. Homeowners and
public officials need such information for informed decisions on dealing with indoor
radon.
Health Physics Society
2
April 4, 1989
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 1, 1989
Dear Ralph:
Many thanks for your note of October 31. It has indeed been
a long time since we corresponded, and I am very glad to be
brought up to date on your activities since that time. I
much appreciate your paper on "Radon Risk Estimates,"
because without the detailed background that you have
provided, I have long suspected that our policies here were
not very soundly based on any scientific information.
Reflecting an unusual degree of common sense, the public in
general has, I think, also concluded that the radon problem
was overhyped in the past and have simply stopped buying the
services of the large number of small companies that sprang
up to provide radon assessments in private homes. That
being the case, this particular group recently got together
to fund a highly professional TV production made by the
Lucas Group responsible for "ET" and other pioneering movies
of the sort. Although I have not myself seen this new tape,
I am told that it could very well scare the average citizen
away from medical x-rays or anything of the sort for the
remainder of their natural life. The intent, obviously, is
to pick up and surpass any of the previous hype concerning
the danger of radon in the home.
As I am increasingly finding in areas such as global change,
in the minds of a great many people here and abroad,
scientific facts have very little to do with public
perceptions, and an amazing level of emotion and mob
psychology conditions public response.
I congratulate you on your paper and, with your permission,
would like to use it where appropriate in discussions of the
radon issue within the government.
With warmest best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Allan
D. Allan Bromley
Assistant to the President
for
Science and Technology
Dr. Ralph E. Lapp
7215 Park Terrace Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22307
"CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING"
File Bromley n
TYPE:
Information
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8910201
FROM:
Ralph E. Lapp
TO:
Bromley Then NEOB Files
DATE OF
CORRESPONDENCE: 10/31/89
SUBJECT: Radon remediation program does not represent a
significant public health risk.
ASSIGNED TO:
ACTION REQUIRED: NONE
SENDER'S DUE DATE:
OSTP DUE DATE:
DATE COMPLETED:
COPIES TO: James Wyngaarden
Nancy Maynard
Judith Bostock
REMARKS:
DATE RECEIVED: 11/02/89
FILE: NEOB
"CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING"
TYPE:
Information
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8920635
FROM:
R. E. LAPP
TO:
BROMLEY
DATE OF
CORRESPONDENCE: 12/04/89
SUBJECT: ENCLOSING PERMISSION TO USE HIS PAPER "RADON RISK
ESTIMATE" AND ENCLOSING A POLICY STATEMENT.
ASSIGNED TO:
ACTION REQUIRED: NONE
SENDER'S DUE DATE:
OSTP DUE DATE:
DATE COMPLETED: 12/12/89
COPIES TO: D. Allan Bromley
REMARKS: PREVIOUSE CORRESPONSDENCE IS ATTACHED.
DATE RECEIVED: 12/06/89
FILE: NEOB
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 29, 1989
Dear Dr. Pardes:
I appreciate your letter of November 6 very much. You have made
some very good points regarding the nation's biomedical research
enterprise which I will share with Jim Wyngaarden, who has just
been officially confirmed as Associate Director for Life Sciences
in OSTP.
I am a strong proponent of the view that we should vigorously
support research, particularly basic research, with Federal
funds. I anticipate that the budgets for NIH and ADAMHA will
continue to grow, although possibly only with a cost of living
increase for the moment in view of the constraints imposed by the
need to control the deficit. This will likely be the case
throughout government except for a few high priority initiatives.
AIDS will certainly remain one such in the biomedical field.
I agree with you also on your points concerning training,
regulatory issues, and salaries in government. My Associate
Directors and I will do what we can from this office to address
these issues.
Thank you very much for writing.
Sincerely yours,
Dowan D. Allan Bromley Fromley
Assistant to the President
for
Science and Technology
Herbert Pardes, M.D.
Vice President for Health Sciences
and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University
630 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University
New York, N. Y. 10032
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
FOR HEALTH SCIENCES AND
DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE
630 West 168th Street
November 6, 1989
D. Allan Bromley
Assistant to the President
for Science and Technology
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Bromley:
Thank you very much for your letter of October 27. I am delighted
for your appointment and appreciate the opportunity to mention a
few items of concern which I hope would be reviewed by your office
in the near future.
These concerns are associated with a broad interest in the vigor
of the nation's biomedical research enterprise. Never before have
there been so many exciting opportunities to make substantial
progress in conquering the diseases that afflict our people and
undermine their productivity. This excitement has been captured
by many young people attempting to put their creative energies to
work attacking problems of health and disease. Simultaneously,
however, a number of things loom as major obstacles to their
participation and their effectiveness in carrying on the nation's
science fight against illness. These include:
1. The constriction on support for biomedical research. A
number of the component institutes in the NIH and ADAMHA
are funding only a small portion of the topnotch grants
being approved. The wisdom of strong support for
research as a method of tackling disease, and also
contributing to the economic well being of the nation has
to be both well articulated and well understood by the
national political leadership. I would hope that your
office is a vigorous proponent for this view and calls
upon those of us in the community to help lend support
to this effort.
1
D.A. Bromley
November 6, 1989
2. As a corollary of the first there is a need for
strengthened support of the training of young researchers
to ensure the population of scientists in the next
decades. Research training has been an afterthought when
it has come to budget preparation. Whatever the problems
of funding for research per se, they have been even more
formidable in the training of young investigators. I
might point out that of particular concern in this regard
is adequate support for physician investigators since
they, being knowledgeable about illness, are particularly
likely to develop the necessary clinical research for a
full fledged attack on disease.
3.
In addition to the above two comments on adequate support
is the need to contain the burgeoning regulatory and
paper work requirements being imposed on the biomedical
research enterprise. Expanding animal regulations,
scientific misconduct issues, conflict of interest, all
are issues which require attention by the biomedical
research community. However, if one gets to the point
where the regulatory apparatus is the primary issue to
which scientists and their administrative supporters
devote their time and attention, this can have a
compromising if not fatal effect on the vitality of the
American biomedical research program.
4. As one final issue I would call your attention to the
need for a substantial escalation in the salaries of
scientists working within the government and leading the
NIH and ADAMHA Institutes. The salaries in the
government have become so far removed from that available
in the outside community as to make the most altruistic
of NIH directors and scientists unable to sustain a
lengthy career within the government service.
I call these issues to your attention as part of a range of issues
in the biomedical research field. Biomedical research has been one
of the areas where this country has been a dominant force. It
would be unfortunate to see, either from lack of support or
excessive obstacles, that we lose that leadership to other
countries and also lose the many related possibilities for
2
D.A. Bromley
November 6, 1989
advancing the health of this country. I stand ready to help you
in any way you deem appropriate or also to discuss further any of
the points I have made above.
Many thanks for your interest. I wish you the best of luck in your
new position.
Sincerely,
120ml
HERBERT PARDES, M.D.
Vice President for Health Sciences
and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
HP: ims
3
"CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING"
TYPE:
Action Item
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8920357
FROM:
HERBERT PARDES
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS
TO:
BROMLEY
DATE OF
CORRESPONDENCE: 11/06/89
SUBJECT: THANK YOU AND EXPRESSING A WILLINGNESS TO HELP WITH
FUTURE ENDEAVORS. ENCLOSING SOME IDEAS.
ASSIGNED TO: James Wyngaarden
ACTION REQUIRED: DRAFT RESPONSE FOR DAB SIGNATURE
SENDER'S DUE DATE:
OSTP DUE DATE:
11/27/89
DATE COMPLETED:
COPIES TO: D. Allan Bromley
Nancy Maynard
JUDY BOSTOCK
REMARKS:
DATE RECEIVED: 11/13/89
FILE: NEOB