Document:

SEVENTH AMENDMENT

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.4

SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
(this "Seventh Amendment") is dated as of October 6, 2000 and is entered into
between Scientific Technologies Incorporated Which Will Do Business in
California as Oregon Scientific Technologies, an Oregon corporation (the
"Borrower"), and Bank of the West, a California banking corporation (the
"Bank").

RECITALS:

A. Borrower and Bank have entered into that
certain Loan and Security Agreement dated November 29, 1994, that certain First
Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 1995, that certain
Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 1996, that
certain Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 31, 1997,
that certain Fourth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of June 9,
1998 and that certain Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of
June 30, 1999, and that certain sixth amendment dated as of June 30, 2000
(collectively, the "Loan Agreement") and that certain Equipment Purchase Line
Note dated December 6, 1994 (the "Equipment Purchase Line Note");

B. Borrower and Bank intend to further amend the Loan
Agreement and/or the Equipment Purchase Line Note as provided by this Seventh
Amendment.

AMENDMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, Borrower and Bank hereby agree as follows:

1.Definitions. This Seventh Amendment shall
modify and, to the extent inconsistent with, amend the Loan Agreement. Any
capitalized term not specifically defined herein shall have the meaning assigned
to it in the loan Agreement.

2.F/X Facility. Section 14 of the Loan
Agreement relating to the provision of a foreign exchange facility is hereby
deleted in its entirety and shall be of no further force or effect. Any balances
outstanding under the F/X Facility formerly provided by Section 14 of the Loan
Agreement shall be treated as balances and advances under the F/X Subfacility
described in Section 3 of this Seventh Amendment.

3.F/X Subfacility. Add a new Section 15 to
the Loan Agreement, which Section 15 shall read in its entirety as
follows:
15.1 Revolving FX Subfacility. At the
request of Borrower, made during Bank's normal business hours from time to time
during the term of this Agreement, and so long as no Event of Default has
occurred, Bank will create foreign exchange contracts for Borrower's account
(the FX Subfacility"), provided, however, that in no event shall Bank be
obligated to enter into any Foreign Exchange Contracts whenever either (I) the
total of Borrower's Obligations in respect of all FX Advances (as hereinafter
defined) under all Foreign Exchange Contracts outstanding under this Section
15.1, when added to the outstanding balance of all loans and advances under
Article 2 of this Agreement, exceeds at any time the sum of Five Million Dollars
($5,000,000), or (ii) the total of Borrower's Obligations in respect of all FX
Advances under all Foreign Exchange Contracts outstanding under the Subfacility
under this Section 15 any time exceed One Million and no/100 Dollars
($1,000,000), (the "Maximum Exposure"), or (iii) the total amount of all Foreign
Exchange Contracts outstanding under the Subfacility under this Section 15 any
time exceed Ten Million and no/100 Dollars ($10,000,000)m (the "Maximum Contract
Commitment").

15.2Terms and Conditions. Except to the extent described by any separate agreement
between Borrower and Bank (a "Foreign Exchange Contract"), the terms and
conditions governing any Foreign Exchange Contract entered into under this FX
Subfacility shall be governed by this Agreement and the Bank's standard terms of
such issuance fees, negotiation fees, and other fees at the times and in the
amounts that Bank may from time to time impose in connection with the provision
of foreign exchange services. Borrower agrees to execute and deliver to Bank
such documents, as Bank deems necessary in connection with the FX subfacility.
Subject to the limitations prescribed by this Agreement, any Foreign Exchange
Contract shall obligate the Bank to exchange domestic currency for foreign
currency (or vice versa) and shall obligate Borrower to purchase such exchanged
currency at a price, in the currency and on a date agreed upon by Borrower and
Bank. Bank shall have the right, but not the obligation, to charge any amount
owing by Borrower to Bank under any Foreign Exchange Contract against any
accounts maintained by Borrower with Bank.

Bank is hereby authorized to enter into any Foreign Exchange
Contract provided for in this Agreement based upon telephonic or other
instructions received from anyone purporting to be an authorized representative
of Borrower or, at the discretion of Bank, if said contracts are necessary to
satisfy any Obligation of Borrower to Bank. Bank shall have no duty to make
inquiry or verify the authority of any such party and Borrower shall hold Bank
harmless from any damages, claims, or liability by reason of Bank's honor of, or
failure to honor, any such instructions.

The date upon which Borrower and Bank shall exchange their
currency shall be referred to as the "Settlement Date." The date upon which
Borrower agrees on (I) the price to be paid, (ii) the currency to be exchanged
by the respective parties, and (iii) the date which shall constitute the
Settlement Date shall be referred to as the "Contract Date." In no event shall
the Settlement Date under any foreign exchange contract exceed eighteen (18
months) from the Contract Date. Following the Contract Date, Bank shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to forward a confirmation statement to Borrower
confirming the terms of such Foreign Exchange Contract. If Borrower fails to
object to the information contained in the confirmation within the shorter of
(I) the period stated therein, or (ii) ten (10) days after the date of such
notification, then the information contained in such confirmation shall be
binding on Borrower.

On the Contract Date, ten percent of the amount of such
Foreign Exchange Contract (in United States Dollars) (each, a "FX Advance")
shall be deemed part of the Credit and shall reduce Borrower's availability
under Section 2.1 of this Agreement in a like amount. If, at any time and for
any reason, the aggregate amount on all F/X Advances outstanding at any time
exceeds the Maximum Exposure prescribed by this Section 15 (an "FX Over
advance"), Borrower shall immediately pay back to Bank, in cash, the amount of
such FX Over advance. If, at any time and for any reason, the aggregate amount
of any Foreign Exchange Contracts outstanding at any time exceeds the Maximum
Contract Commitment prescribed by this Section 15, Borrower shall immediately
settle and resolve such contract. If Borrower fails to satisfy and discharge

its obligations under such Foreign Exchange Contract on the
Settlement Date, Bank shall have the right (but not the obligation) to treat the
amount of such unpaid and unsatisfied obligation as part of the Credit.
Notwithstanding the reduction in the Credit authorized by this Section 15.2,
Borrower's duty to satisfy and discharge its obligations under any Foreign
Exchange Contract shall constitute part of the Obligations and shall be secured
by the Collateral. If Borrower fails to discharge and satisfy its obligations
under a Foreign Exchange Contract on the Settlement Date, such failure shall
constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement.

4.Conditions Precedent. Bank's duties to
extend and renew the Obligations and to make Advances in accordance with this
Seventh Amendment shall be subject to (I) there being no outstanding and uncured
defaults under the Loan Agreement, the Equipment Purchase Line Note or any other
obligation owing by Borrower to Bank; (ii) the satisfaction of each of the
conditions precedent set forth in Article 6 of the Loan Agreement, each of which
is incorporated herein by this reference; and (iii) the execution and delivery
of this Seventh Amendment and such other documents as Bank may request. 

5.Ratification of Warranties and
Representations. Except as amended by this Seventh Amendment, Borrower
hereby ratifies, reaffirms, and remakes as of the date hereof each and every
representation and warranty contained in the Loan Agreement, the Equipment
Purchase Line Note, or in any document executed and delivered in connection
therewith.

6.Continued Force and Effect. Except as
amended by this Seventh Amendment, all of the Terms and conditions of the Loan
Agreement (and each and every document or instrument executed and delivered in
connection therewith) is and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed and delivered this
Seventh Amendment to Bank on the date first above written at Walnut Creek,
California.

"BORROWER"

SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED WHICH WILL DO
BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA AS OREGON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, an Oregon
corporation

By: /s/Joseph J. Lazzara 

Its: President and Chief Executive Officer 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bank hereby accepts this Seventh Amendment to be
effective as of the date first above written in Walnut Creek, California.

"BANK"

BANK OF THE WEST,

a California banking corporation

By: /s/Henry Alvarez 

Its: Assistant Vice PresidentExhibit No. 10.10.

March 8, 2000 (amended and restated as of January 12, 2001)

Mr. Alan K. Allred
Vice President, Business Development
Questar Pipeline Company
180 East 100 South
P.O. Box 45360
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0360

Dear Mr. Allred:

This letter sets forth the terms of an agreement between Colorado
Interstate Gas Company ("CIG") and Questar Pipeline Company
("Questar"), concerning (i) the joint development, ownership, and
construction and operation of new and/or expanded natural gas
pipeline facilities extending westward from an interconnection with
CIG's pipeline facilities near the Natural Buttes area in Utah
through the Price, Utah area, continuing westward to a pipeline
interconnection with the Kern River natural gas pipeline near
Elberta, Utah and extending to the vicinity of Elko, Nevada, and
(ii) gas transportation service for CIG's affiliate over a portion
of such facilities (such new and/or expanded pipeline facilities and
the related gas transportation service shall hereinafter be referred
to as the "Project").  In consideration of the mutual premises and
covenants of the parties, and subject to the conditions identified
below, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Pipeline Construction Phases of the Project:

     The Pipeline Construction will take place in two phases:

           Phase I:  Construction of a new 1440 p.s.i.g.
           24-inch pipeline loop (including compression)f
           of Questar's existing pipeline system from the
           Price, Utah area to a delivery point inter-
           connection with the Kern River Pipeline near
           Elberta, Utah (the "Questar Loop").

           Phase II:  Construction of a new interstate
           natural gas pipeline (the "Ruby Pipeline") from
           the Questar/Kern River Pipeline delivery point
           interconnection near Elberta, Utah to the vicinty
           of Elko, Nevada.

            Ownership of Pipeline Facilities:

            Questar Loop - Questar shall cause the
            construction of the Questar loop.  Questar
            shall file a certificate application with
            the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
            ("FERC")  for authorization to construct and
            operate the new facilities.  Questar shall
            pursue "rolled-in" rate treatment for the
            new facilities and the capacity created by
            those facilities, and shall attempt to avoid
            incremental pricing of those facilities and
            that capacity.  Questar shall have full
            responsibility and authority for all
            elements of the certificate application.
            CIG will use all reasonable efforts to
            assist Questar in this process and will
            support the application.  If CIG terminates
            this Letter Agreement, CIG will not oppose
            the construction of Phase I at the FERC but
            will retain the right to intervene and take
            positions on issues such as pipe size,
            compression, rates, etc. that are in CIG's
            best interests.  Questar will not be
            required to accept a certificate which, in
            its sole judgment, is detrimental to its
            interests. Upon the in-service date of the
            new facilities Questar shall sell a 31.3%(1)
            undivided interest in the Questar Loop to
            CIG Gas Supply Company ("Supply") at
            Questar's cost. Coincident with the sale of
            the undivided interest, Supply will lease
            its undivided interest in the Questar Loop
            to Questar under a thirty-three  (33) year
            and four month lease with full possessory
            and operational rights.  The lease payments
            will be tied to the sales price, will be
            cost of service based, and will be
            calculated annually using rate of return,
            depreciation, capital structure and income
            tax factors authorized by the FERC for use
            in setting Questar's rates. The Lease
            Agreement between Questar and Supply dated
            August 22, 2000, shall be revised to reflect
            the foregoing provisions.  If CIG Resources
            Company ("Resources") terminates the Gas
            Transportation Services agreement discussed
            below, or at the termination of the lease,
            Questar shall have the right to re-purchase
            Supply's interest in the Questar Loop at the
            then present net book value.  If Questar
            elects to re-purchase Supply's interest, CIG
            shall have the right to re-purchase
            Questar's interest in the Ruby Pipeline
            described below at the then present net book
            value.
            ____________________
                 1  This percentage interest may be
            increased as provided in the separate letter
            agreement between CIG and Questar dated
            January 12, 2001.

            Ruby Pipeline - Questar shall have the
            right, exercisable by written notice to CIG,
            to participate in the ownership of the Ruby
            Pipeline. CIG will provide Questar with the
            economics supporting the Ruby Pipeline
            (including details of costs incurred to date
            and the supporting contracts, which may
            include the gas transportation agreement
            discussed below).  Based upon its review of
            these economics and supporting documents,
            Questar shall have ninety (90) days from the
            Trigger Date to exercise Questar's right to
            participate in the Ruby Pipeline, during
            which 90-day period Questar will seek any
            necessary approvals of its board of
            directors for the exercise of such right.
            The "Trigger Date" means the date of receipt
            of the last of: (1) a fully-executed and
            binding precedent agreement providing for
            firm gas transportation service by CIG/Ruby
            for Newmont Gold Company's  ("Newmont's")
            processing load requirements; (2) a
            fully-executed and binding precedent
            agreement providing for firm gas
            transportation service by CIG/Ruby for the
            proposed Elko power plant's full
            requirements (such precedent agreements are
            to provide for a total firm transportation
            capacity of approximately 82,000 Dth/day);
            and (3) written notification from CIG that
            it intends to continue pursuing the Ruby
            Pipeline project.

                       If Questar elects to participate
            in the Ruby Pipeline: (i) it shall purchase
            a 31.3%(2) ownership interest; and (ii)
            Questar and CIG agree to use good faith
            efforts to negotiate and execute a joint
            venture agreement, operating agreement
            and/or other appropriate agreements ("Joint
            Venture Agreements") for the ownership and
            operation of the Ruby Pipeline that include
            provisions for proportionately sharing costs
            of the Ruby Pipeline project. Such
            provisions shall also be consistent with the
            terms of this Letter Agreement. CIG (or the
            participating CIG affiliate) may offer an
            equity ownership interest in the Ruby
            Pipeline to Southwest Gas Corporation, in
            which event the ownership interests of the
            CIG and Questar participating affiliates
            shall be diluted on a pro rata basis.  Third
            party ownership in excess of 25% must be
            agreed to by both parties. The parties shall
            exercise good faith efforts to complete the
            Joint Venture Agreements described herein
            prior to the end of the 90-day period
            described above, which Joint Venture
            Agreements shall require approval by the
            parties' senior management or boards of
            directors, provided however that opposition
            to any points specifically set forth in this
            Letter Agreement shall not be a basis for
            withholding of such approvals. If,
            notwithstanding such good faith efforts, the
            parties fail to reach agreement in principal
            on the terms of the Joint Venture Agreements
            by the end of such 90-day period, then -
            unless otherwise agreed - the parties shall
            refer the terms on which they have not been
            able to agree upon in principal to a
            mutually acceptable arbitrator selected
            within 30 days of the end of the 90-day
            period to resolve the disputed issues.  Such
            arbitration shall be governed by the rules
            of the American Arbitration Association. The
            costs of such arbitration shall be borne
            equally by the parties.  If the parties
            reach agreement at least in principal on the
            terms of the Joint Venture Agreements by the
            end of such 90-day period, the parties shall
            finalize and execute the Joint Venture
            Agreements by no later than the date that is
            120 days from the Trigger Date. In the event
            of arbitration as provided for above, the
            parties shall finalize and execute the Joint
            Venture Agreements by no later than the date
            that is 30 days from the date of issuance of
            the arbitrator's decision.
            ____________________
                 22  Should Supply's equity interest in
            the Questar Loop be increased per the
            provisions of footnote 1, this percentage
            interest will also be increased to the same
            number.

            Gas Transportation Services:

             CIG Resources Company ("Resources") has
            contracted, subject to the provisions of
            this Letter Agreement, for 94 MDth/day of
            firm transportation capacity from the
            interconnection of Questar's and CIG's
            facilities near Natural Buttes, Utah
            (including up to 25 MDth/day from the Dragon
            Trail-Questar receipt point) to the delivery
            point interconnection with Kern River
            Pipeline near Elberta, Utah (at a pressure
            sufficient to enter into the Kern River
            Pipeline). Such transportation agreement
            shall contain or be subject to the terms of
            this Letter Agreement, notwithstanding any
            other provisions of the transportation
            agreement or Questar's FERC gas tariff.
            Service and payment obligations under the
            transportation agreement shall commence on
            the first day of the month following the
            date the Questar Loop is ready for service.
            Such transportation agreement shall have a
            term of twenty (20) years commencing upon
            the date discussed above, and shall provide
            Resources the right to terminate, with 12
            month prior notification, at any time on or
            after ten years.  The transportation
            agreement shall have a two-part rate
            (reservation/usage) equivalent to a 100%
            load factor rate of $0.13/Dth.

                       If Questar agrees to provide firm
            transportation on the Questar Loop for other
            similarly-situated shippers on similar terms
            to those provided for in the Resources
            transportation agreement, Questar shall
            offer to provide the same rates and terms to
            Resources under the Resources transportation
            agreement and to any third party shippers
            under any releases of the Resources
            transportation capacity.

                       If by November 1, 2002, Resources
            requests an additional 56 MDth/d of capacity
            from Questar from Natural Buttes to Elberta,
            Questar will hold an open season  and if
            Questar can provide Resources with 56 MDth/d
            of firm capacity from Natural Buttes to
            Elberta it will do so at a 100% load factor
            rate of  $.13 per Dth, so long as the $.13
            per Dth is above Questar's incremental costs
            for constructing such capacity.

            Additional Provisions:

            Overthrust Pipeline Sale - Provided that
            Supply acquires the above-described interest
            in the Questar Loop, CIG shall cause CIG
            Overthrust, Inc. ("CIG Overthrust") to agree
            to a sale to Questar of CIG Overthrust's 10%
            equity interest in Overthrust Pipeline
            Company at an amount equal to CIG
            Overthrust's net book value at the date of
            the sale adjusted to compensate CIG
            Overthrust for any tax obligations that are
            created by the sale.(3)   Such sale shall
            take place within 30 days following the
            in-service date of the Questar Loop, subject
            to any necessary regulatory approvals and
            Questar's commitment that neither CIG nor
            its affiliate Wyoming Interstate Company
            will be adversely affected due to future
            operations or rate structures of the
            Overthrust pipeline, to the extent such
            matters are under Questar's control.
            ____________________
                 33 Attached as Exhibit A is an example
            of how the purchase price will be calculated.

            Construction and Operation - It is the
            general intent of the parties that Questar
            will construct the expansions of its
            pipeline, that CIG shall construct the Ruby
            Pipeline and that Questar shall operate all
            facilities which are constructed as a part
            of Questar Pipeline.  The parties
            specifically reserve to a later time the
            determination of the operator of the Ruby
            Pipeline.

            Ruby Pipeline Extensions - The parties agree
            to evaluate a possible lateral north to
            Northwest Pipeline and further agree that
            such a lateral would be an opportunity that
            is initially reserved to the
            Ruby Pipeline.  Such evaluation shall be
            conducted by March 1, 2002.  The Joint
            Venture Agreements shall contain provisions
            governing such potential extensions and
            shall provide procedures permitting members
            the right to participate in such extensions
            or to decline such participation opportunities
            .
            Board Approvals - Questar's acceptance of
            the FERC certificate is subject to the
            approval by the senior management and, if
            applicable, Board of Directors of Questar.
            The resulting capital investment obligations
            contemplated herein by Supply, are subject
            to the approval by the senior management
            and, if applicable, Board of Directors of
            Supply (or Supply's parent corporation.)

            Legal Relationship - It is the intent of the
            parties that as a result of the sale and
            lease-back of the ownership interest in the
            Questar Loop facilities, Supply will not be
            deemed to be an owner of any other portion
            of Questar Pipeline's facilities.  Further
            the parties will have no legal, financial or
            fiduciary obligations to one another other
            than those specifically set forth in this
            Letter Agreement arising out of Supply's
            ownership interest in the Questar Loop
            facilities except for previously executed
            agreements.

            Confidentiality and Exclusivity - The
            parties agree that the terms of this Letter
            Agreement shall fall under the terms of the
            Confidentiality Agreement previously
            executed by the parties.  The parties
            further agree that during the term of this
            Letter Agreement neither party shall take
            any action inconsistent with the joint
            development of the Project, provided however
            that such agreement shall not preclude
            either party from seeking transportation
            commitments for the capacity discussed herein.

            Choice of Law - This  Letter Agreement shall
            be construed and enforced in accordance with
            the laws of the State of Utah.

            Prevailing Agreement  - This Letter
            Agreement amends, restates and supersedes in
            its entirety the Letter Agreement as signed
            by the Parties and dated March 8, 2000, as
            amended and restated.

            Please indicate the agreement of Questar to
            the terms outlined above by signing below
            and returning one fully executed copy of
            this Letter Agreement to me.

            Sincerely,

            Colorado Interstate Gas Company

            By: /s/Craig R. Coombs
                  Craig R. Coombs
                  Assistant Vice President

            ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO  this 12th day of
            January, 2001:

            Questar Pipeline Company

            By: /s/Alan K. Allred
                   Alan K. Allred
                   Vice President, Business Development

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