A Carroll recycling corporation's plan to remove ash from an old pit on its property will be the topic of a special Environmental Affairs Advisory Board meeting March 16.

Phoenix Recycling Inc. is seeking a variance from county forest ordinance requirements as corporate officials consider whether to remove the coal ash from a pit on the recycler's Finksburg property. The ordinance applies because the recycler plans to disturb more than 1 acre of land.

Waste Management requested a meeting to speed the permit process because of an approaching deadline on an agreement with the previous owner, Haden Trash Removal Inc, said James L. Loveland, regional environmental manager for Waste Management Inc., which owns Phoenix Recycling.

If the ash is removed now, the previous owner will bear the cost, Mr. Loveland said.

If Waste Management leaves the ash in the pit and makes the final payment on the sale, it would have to pay for any future removal.

Mr. Loveland said corporate officials have not decided whether to remove the ash and take it to a landfill.

Earlier reports that the pit is leaching lead into the North Branch of the Patapsco River are incorrect, Mr. Loveland.

"There is no concern that anything is leaching out," Mr. Loveland said. He said tests have shown that the ash contains lead, which raises concerns over the potential danger of leaving it in the ground.

The EAAB will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 300A of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.