  We discuss the possible production of the $\sigma$ meson and detection of its
two photon decay mode in peripheral heavy ion collisions at RHIC. Assuming the
mass and total decay width values reported recently by the E791 Collaboration,
we verify that the $\sigma$ meson can be observed in the subprocess $\gamma
\gamma \to \gamma \gamma$ if its partial decay width into photons is of the
order of a few keV.
