The Anne Arundel County landfill in Millersville was closed for four hours yesterday while fire officials investigated what appeared to be a PVC pipe bomb, but the pipe turned out to contain no explosives.

People doing court-ordered community service at the landfill found the device in a recycling drop-off area. Police were notified at 9: 25 a.m.

County officials said the area, but not the entire landfill, was evacuated while the state fire marshal's office checked out the pipe and determined it was not an explosive device.

Commercial haulers were rerouted to the Annapolis Junction transfer station, a private facility owned by USA Waste Inc., where the county sends some of its trash. Residents were told to return later or take materials to the Glen Burnie Convenience Center.

It was the second time in a month that the landfill was closed briefly because of a suspicious object. On June 28, a worker found a practice rocket.

Pub Date: 7/29/98