A New Haven landlord who exposed construction workers to asbestos as part of an illegal removal project will have to pay nearly $10,000 as punishment.
Aleks Rakaj, 46, of Trumbull, was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation and a $9,500 fine for illegally removing asbestos at the New Haven property.
According to prosecutors, Rakaj and his two cousins purchased a commercial building at 206-220 Wallace St. Prior to purchasing the property, the Realtor informed Rakaj and his cousins that the property contained asbestos. Shortly after the purchase was completed, Rakaj and his cousins failed to abide by laws and regulations concerning asbestos removal, resulting in exposure of those who were at the site to the potentially deadly material.
On Nov. 20, 2015, inspectors from the city health department, conducting an unannounced inspection, discovered the illegal asbestos removal project. The inspection revealed multiple instances of illegal removal of asbestos-containing “air cell” pipe wrap and asbestos-containing “mag block” tank and boiler insulation. The workers failed to abide by legally required safety measures, failed to perform necessary wetting and failed to dispose of the asbestos-containing waste material at appropriate disposal sites. Inspectors also observed and photographed 100-150 standard garbage bags filled with unlabeled, unwetted asbestos-containing material.
Rakaj pleaded guilty to one count of illegal asbestos removal in violation of the Clean Air Act in May of this year.
Rakaj’s cousins, Rezart Rakaj, of Ansonia, and Kliton Rakaj, of Monroe, previously pleaded guilty to the same offense. They were each sentenced to one year of probation, a fine of $9,500, and 50 hours of community service on April 1.
“The illegal removal of asbestos insulation and the associated removal of scrap pipe and boilers from old buildings continues to be a problem throughout the Northeast,” EPA-CID Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon said in a statement. “Inhalation of asbestos fibers can result in lung cancer and it therefore poses significant health risks to all exposed. The EPA will continue to hold accountable those who commit such offenses.”
