Document bapR2Z4YyrD9oa57p0BMa9xKD

GRACE JAN 1 9 1930 002.174 Robert H. Beber, Vice President W. R. Groce & Co. Groce Plaza 1114 Avenge of the Americas New York. NY 10036-7794 (212) 819-5757 l January 15, 1990 Jon M. Arntson, Esq. Aratson & Stewart, P.C. Suite 520 Gate City Federal Building 500 Second Avenue North P.O. Box 789 Fargo, ND 58107 Dear Mr. Arntson: Reference'is made to your letter of January 5, 1990 regarding the alleged presence of w. R. Grace 6 Co.-Conn ("Grace") fireproofing in the headquarters of Montana-Dakota utilities. Grace fireproofing products sold under the Mono-Kote trade name may or may not contain commercially added asbestos. The date of manufacture of the product will control. Accordingly, it would be helpful to know when the fireproofing was installed in your client's premises. Secondly, while Mono-Kote fireproofing was a widely accepted product it was not the only fireproofing material on the market. Please advise how you or your client concluded that the product in your client's premises was manufactured by Grace. Finally, Mono-Kote fireproofing is a cementitious product. Unless abused it will perform its function without creating a problem. A visual inspection of the product in place plus periodic air sampling should establish that no action need be taken. Yours truly.