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LABORATORY DIRECTOR CHARGED

Release Date: 06/27/97
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LABORATORY DIRECTOR CHARGED

Michael L. Klusaritz, former Laboratory Director at Hess Environmental Laboratories
in East Stroudsburg, Pa., and former operator of the now closed Phase II Laboratories
in Catasauqua, Pa., was charged on June 19, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District in Philadelphia, Pa., with four felony counts involving false statements
and three felony counts of mail fraud.  He allegedly defrauded customers who were
billed more than $214,000 for environmental lab tests that were never performed.  
The two companies were hired to perform tests such as Total Organic Halides, Volatile
Organic Chemicals and the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure.  Accurate
reporting of these tests ensure compliance with environmental laws and determine
remedies in cases where hazardous materials are indicated.  If convicted, he faces
a maximum of up to 35 years in prison, three years supervised release, and/or fines
of up to $1,750,000.  The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation
Division, EPA’s Office of Inspector General and the Criminal Investigation Division
of the U.S. Army, with the assistance of EPA’s National Enforcement
Investigations Center.