EX-16 2 nyc504497.txt EXHIBIT 16.1 Exhibit 16.1 March 18, 2005 Securities and Exchange Commission Mail Stop 9-5 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Ladies and Gentlemen: We were previously principal accountants for the BHP USA Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) and, under the date of June 17, 2004, we reported on the financial statements and supplemental schedules of the Plan as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the years then ended. On March 3, 2005, our appointment as principal accountants was terminated. We have read the Plan's statements included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated March 10, 2005, and we agree with such statements, except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with the Plan's statements that (1) the dismissal of KPMG LLP was approved by an authorized officer of the Plan, (2) an authorized officer with respect to the Plan engaged Kraft CPAs PLLC as the auditors of the Plan for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 and (3) the decision to dismiss KPMG and to retain Kraft CPAs PLLC was based primarily on cost considerations. Very truly yours, /s/ KMPG LLP