Asbestos and Mesothelioma News

Teacher Sentenced for Asbestos Violations

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

According to recent reports, a former teacher from Bridger High School in Montana has been sentenced for violating asbestos guidelines.


The teacher was accused of asbestos violations and putting her students at risk of exposure.


Students Remove Asbestos


Randal J. Ecker, 60, reportedly had his special-education students remove tiles containing asbestos from the school’s building.


The teenagers removed the tiles to begin a remodeling project that was to start at the school and tests showed the tiles contained nine to eleven percent asbestos.


Teacher Faces Jail Time


Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull sentenced gave Ecker a one year probationary sentence for putting his students at risk.


Ecker supposedly issued a public and emotional apology for his wrongdoing.


Ecker pleaded guilty at his arraignment for violating the Clean Air Act and failing to provide a written notice of a cleanup plan to the EPA.


He currently faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison for his decision, along with a $250,000 fine.


Other members of the faculty have defended Ecker stating that he has an “impeccable reputation as an educator” and didn’t knowingly expose the students to the harmful carcinogen.


(Source: Billings Gazette)


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