WASHINGTON – Branko Lazic, owner of Bilaz, Inc., was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to six months home confinement for a Clean Air Act violation for improper removal of asbestos, the Justice Department announced.
Lazic pleaded guilty in June 2007 to one Clean Air Act violation for the improper removal of asbestos from the Mattison Elementary School in Ambler, Pa., in June 2002.
His sentence includes six months home confinement as a condition of three years probation. In addition he must complete 50 hours of community service and will be prohibited from working in the asbestos abatement industry while on probation.
The defendant and his company were hired to remove asbestos from several areas in the elementary school, which was undergoing renovation. Lazic admitted that he left the elementary school during the asbestos removal process despite knowing that it was likely the workers he employed would not properly remove the asbestos. After the removal work was completed in preparation for the new school year, janitors and teachers removed a white dust residue from the floors and furniture.
Lazic will further pay $6,097 in restitution to RT Environmental, Inc., which was the lead contracting company that had to pay for the subsequent cleanup. This is the amount that was not reimbursed by insurance companies and other subcontractors.
This case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
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