The Committee will review the NIH Study [Draft Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Boston University] and meet to discuss the methodologies and analyses therein and to address specific questions provided by officials of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The questions addressed by the Committee will solely pertain to the scientific adequacy of the NIH Study. The specific questions to be addressed are as follows:

• Determine if the scientific analyses in NIH Study are sound and credible;

• Determine whether the proponent has identified representative worst case scenarios;

• Determine, based on the study’s comparison of risk associated with alternative locations, whether there is a greater risk to public health and safety from the location of the facility in one or another proposed location;

The parties acknowledge and agree that the Committee’s report will be limited to a technical review of the NIH Study, and the Contractor [NRC] will make no findings or recommendations regarding the adequacy of any determinations or decisions made by any agency or department of the U.S. Government or the State Massachusetts under NEPA or MEPA, and Contractor shall not be responsible in any way for any such decisions or determinations. The Committee will author a letter report that addresses the foregoing questions and submit this letter report to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office prior to the end of the public comment period.