Secretary Samuel E. Hayes
PA Department of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408

Dear Secretary Hayes:

On behalf of the Agricultural Advisory Board, I would like to thank you for your letter of July 15.

The Board has placed a high level of support for the formation of the working group. I am very pleased to learn of your efforts to form and fund such a response group. I will relay this information to the whole Board at the August meeting. It is our desire to do what we can to bring about the creation and utilization of this kind of a working group.

I must emphasize our concern that the scope and mandate of the group must include the ability and opportunity to investigate the potential for harm via low level exposure to toxins by animals, and that the group be empowered to investigate and respond to these situations that occur within the boundaries of Pennsylvania.

We acknowledge your support and efforts to achieve this goal and are grateful that a "Paradigm for Progress" appears to be in place, which is truly necessary to make Pennsylvania the national leader in these issues.