By Scott Wyman, Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

They called on him to order his staff to drop plans to bury ash from Philadelphia's infamous 1980s garbage barge in Broward County.

"We refuse to stand by quietly while Broward County is dumped on,"

County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs said at a hastily arranged rally of opponents at the county Government Center. "If we have to link arms in the roadway to stop this, we are prepared to do it."

Bush, who was in town Monday to dedicate a veterans' nursing home and speak to a conservative think tank, said his environmental agency is seeking alternatives.

"If it meets all the environmental standards, it would be fine," he said of the original plan. "But the Department of Environmental Protection has intervened."

The group of officials and activists urged concerned residents to write or call the governor's office. County and city officials also are exploring other options, including seeking a court injunction and re-testing the ash to verify the state's contention it's not contaminated.

City commissioners in Deerfield Beach decided Monday evening to begin preparations to go to court with Coconut Creek and Pompano Beach to stop the trash burial. They could ask a judge to block the plan as early as Thursday.

State and federal regulators agreed last week to allow Waste Management Inc. to haul the 3,000 tons of ash to its incinerator near Pompano Beach, burn it again and bury it in the neighboring landfill.

Faced with public opposition, the state asked Waste Management to wait until officials could allay safety concerns.

The ash has been kept on barges in the St. Lucie Canal since last spring in the latest saga of the 15-year voyage around the world of the incinerated municipal garbage.

The cargo ship that left Philadelphia in 1986 was turned away from ports around the world -- sometimes at gunpoint -- because of concerns that the trash was contaminated. Part of the ash was buried in Haiti under the guise that it was soil fertilizer, but was dug up and returned to the United States.

Bush's secretary of environmental protection, David Struhs, wrote county commissioners Monday after the rally to reiterate that he is committed to delaying the waste's burial. He said he wants to give everyone time to find another solution.

At the same time, he described the ash as "a small quantity of material" and assured there would be "no risk to the environment or public health" if the plan moves ahead. The governor's office stood behind him.

"This is Secretary Struhs' decision, and we have full faith and confidence in him," Bush communications director Katie Baur said.

Officials with the state and Waste Management said they are willing to let Broward retest the waste. That is among the steps county commissioners will likely take at their meeting today when they discuss what they can do to stop the ash burial.

The state determined the ash was not hazardous or infectious after having it tested at four separate labs.

"A lot of this is education because this waste does have a bad reputation," Waste Management spokesman Don Payne said. "Over the years, environmental groups have said it may be contaminated, but there is no truth to it."

More than 40 people turned out for the morning rally appealing for help from the governor. Some carried signs that said, "Don't trash Broward,"

"Philly take back your sleaze," and "Waste Management shame on you."

The group included city officials from Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach, the Sierra Club, other environmental groups and homeowners from neighborhoods around the landfill.

They were unconvinced the trash is safe and did not understand why Broward should be its final resting place.

"This is a travesty, an outrage," said Pompano Beach resident Lynn Simross, who carried a sign critical of Bush. "You can't tell me Philadelphia doesn't have a place to take it after 15 years. Pompano is not a dumping ground."

State Sen. Debby Sanderson, R-Fort Lauderdale, promised to lobby Bush personally and meet with Struhs next week in Tallahassee.

Pompano Beach city commissioners canceled a special meeting they scheduled for Monday once they heard the state delayed moving the ash.

But Mayor William Griffin said residents are wary of the state in the wake of its handling of the citrus canker problem.

In Deerfield Beach, the city commission condemned Waste Management's plan and prepared to go to court. The city's lawyer said he would attempt to prove the dumping violates Waste Management's contract with Broward cities, creates a nuisance at the landfill and doesn't comply with city permits.

City Manager Larry Deetjen said his city will not be appeased by the state's postponement of the plan in order to hold further talks.

"Deerfield's position is very clear: no discussion, no compromise," he said. "The trash ash is not to be deposited here in Broward County."

Staff Writers Glenn Jeffers and Megan O'Matz contributed to this report.

Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.