In light of recent conflicting and confusing reports of scientific findings at Love Canal, public policy decisions affecting the residents of that area have been made more difficult.

In order to evaluate the validity of such reports and to provide the Governor and the Legislature with guidance for proper use of medical and scientific data in connection with the handling of chemically contaminated areas, I, Hugh L. Carey, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby appoint a Panel to Review Scientific Studies and the Development of Public Policy on Problems Resulting From Hazardous Wastes, and request this panel to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature at the earliest possible time.

In preparing its report, the panel shall:

— review and evaluate medical and scientific data and studies prepared by or at the request of the State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation in connection with Love Canal, and the methodology used in compiling such data and preparing such studies;

— review and evaluate medical and scientific data and studies prepared by or at the request of the Federal government in connection with Love Canal, with specific reference to studies relating to genetic damage conducted at the request of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the methodology used in compiling such data and preparing such studies;

— review and evaluate medical and scientific data and studies relating to Love Canal compiled or prepared by any other agency, group or organization;

— review available data concerning other known chemically contaminated areas in the State;

— review and comment upon the proper relationship between State and Federal agencies in local health emergencies such as that at Love Canal;

— review and comment upon the proper use of medical and scientific data in the development of public policy in the areas of environmental protection and public health;

— review and comment upon the current state of scientific knowledge regarding the effects of chemicals on the environment and public health.

The Governor shall appoint the members of the panel and shall designate a chairman. The members shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

I hereby direct all State agencies to assist and cooperate fully with the panel and to provide the panel with all available data necessary to the completion of its tasks, and I urge Federal agencies and other bodies who have collected data at Love Canal to cooperate fully with the panel.