The first project under the University of Hawaii's new Navy Applied Research Laboratory is an $850,000 award for continued investigation of possible threats in waters at “;Ordnance Reef”; off Waianae, university officials and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye announced yesterday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and UH studied the area in June 2006 for discarded World War II munitions. The 2006 study concluded the munitions posed no immediate danger to the public and the environment.

The new UH study, sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers, is in response to community concerns that the 2006 study did not consider changes in water quality and biotic and sediment composition that may vary seasonally, UH said in a news release.

The study will be conducted over one year to identify any information gaps in the 2006 study. It will include a background review and evaluation of the 2006 study, additional sampling and testing, and a risk assessment.

A coordinating council, whose members will include federal, state, city and community representatives, will work with the Army on the testing methods to be used, Inouye said in a news release.

“;It is important that we examine the impacts from the discarded military munitions at Ordnance Reef to determine the most appropriate course of action,”; Inouye said in the written release. “;This is our obligation. I have no doubt that the UH lab will undertake its tasks with professionalism, and with environmental and cultural sensitivity.

UH signed a contract with the Navy to set up the Applied Research Laboratory in June. A coalition of faculty, students and community activists protested the establishment of the facility and occupied the offices of UH President David McClain in May 2005, objecting to what they called the militarization of the university.

Supporters of the lab say it could bring in up to $10 million a year in contracts for UH researchers.