SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 Date of Report
                                January 28, 1997


                       STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Colorado
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         0-25312                                                 84-1286576
(Commission File No.)                                         (IRS Employer ID)


                             79 Old Ridgefield Road
                            Wilton, Connecticut 06897
              (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)


                                  203/762-2499
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



<PAGE>



ITEM 4.

     (a) At its board  meeting on December 31,  1996,  the Board of Directors of
the  Registrant  engaged  Kostin,  Ruffkess  &  Company,  LLC  Certified  Public
Accountants, as its independent auditor for 1996.

     (b) The accounting firm of Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. was replaced as a
result of the  engagement of Kostin  Ruffkess & Company,  LLC, and there were no
disagreements  with Robert Moe &  Associates,  P.S. on any matter of  accounting
principles or practices, financial disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure or
any reportable events.  Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. were replaced as a result
of the execution of the Rescission Agreement and Release.

     (c) Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. did not prepare any reports on behalf of
the Registrant for the year ended October 31,1996.

     (d) The Registrant has requested that Robert Moe & Associates, P.S. furnish
it with a letter  addressed to the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  stating
whether it agrees with the above  statement.  A copy of Robert Moe & Associates,
P.S.'s letter is filed as "Exhibit 16.5" (by reference) to this Form 8-K.


                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION




                                             BY:   /S/  John D. Watts
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John D. Watts, Vice President


DATED:  January 28, 1997
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2831}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORP", "cik": "0000875762", "assigned-sic": "3590", "irs-number": "841286576", "state-of-incorporation": "CO", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-25312", "film-number": "97512521"}, "business-address": {"street1": "79 OLD RIDGEFIELD RD", "city": "WILTON", "state": "CT", "zip": "06897", "phone": "2037622499"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "79 OLD RIDGEFIELD RD", "city": "WILTON", "state": "CT", "zip": "06897"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "KAPALUA ACQUISITIONS INC", "date-changed": "19941223"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Date of Report
                                January 28, 1997

                       STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Colorado
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

         0-25312                                                 84-1286576
(Commission File No.)                                         (IRS Employer ID)

                             79 Old Ridgefield Road
                            Wilton, Connecticut 06897
              (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

                                  203/762-2499
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
ITEM 4.

     (a) At its board  meeting on December 31,  1996,  the Board of Directors of
the  Registrant  engaged  Kostin,  Ruffkess  &  Company,  LLC  Certified  Public
Accountants, as its independent auditor for 1996.

     (b) The accounting firm of Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. was replaced as a
result of the  engagement of Kostin  Ruffkess & Company,  LLC, and there were no
disagreements  with Robert Moe &  Associates,  P.S. on any matter of  accounting
principles or practices, financial disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure or
any reportable events.  Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. were replaced as a result
of the execution of the Rescission Agreement and Release.

     (c) Robert Moe & Associates,  P.S. did not prepare any reports on behalf of
the Registrant for the year ended October 31,1996.

     (d) The Registrant has requested that Robert Moe & Associates, P.S. furnish
it with a letter  addressed to the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  stating
whether it agrees with the above  statement.  A copy of Robert Moe & Associates,
P.S.'s letter is filed as "Exhibit 16.5" (by reference) to this Form 8-K.

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION

                                             BY:   /S/  John D. Watts
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 John D. Watts, Vice President

DATED:  January 28, 1997