The Army says that continued use of Makua Military Reservation is not likely to result in the release of contaminants that would find their way into fish, prawns, crabs and seaweed collected for consumption.

In a marine resources study report released yesterday, the Army Corps of Engineers said a number of compounds were detected that could be related to military activities at Makua - including arsenic, chromium, cobalt, manganese and nitroglycerin - but at small levels.

“;Though these and other substances may be byproducts of military training at (Makua), they are also linked to natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources, such as fireworks, rodenticides, gasoline and volcanic rock,”; said the report, prepared for the Army by Tetra Tech Inc.

The 12-page executive summary of the so-called “;shellfish study”; said comparisons indicated that there is little difference between the contaminants in the samples from the beaches of Nanakuli compared with waters of Sandy Beach. Twenty-six fish samples, 12 shellfish samples and four limu samples were collected.

“;The low levels of most substances detected during these investigations suggest that 60 years of live-fire training has not resulted in significant, detectable levels of most substances in the area,”; the study said.

It added, “;Similar live-fire activities at MMR in the future are expected to be likewise insignificant.”;

The study, conducted in accordance with a 2007 legal settlement with Malama Makua, is part of a supplemental draft environmental impact statement that was released in September for public comment and which examines four uses of the 4,190-acre valley. Of the four, the Army favors allowing “;full capacity use with fewer restrictions.”;

The Army anticipates releasing the final environmental study this summer.

William Aila, a Leeward Oahu resident who has been part of the drive to close the use of Makua by military, declined to comment until he has had time to review the report.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, said he is hopeful that it can be a step toward resolving this controversy.

“;Clearly, the Army must continue to work to protect natural resources and cultural sites - and to be a good neighbor to the surrounding communities,”; said Abercrombie.

Malama Makua, a nonprofit corporation, sued the Army in 2000, claiming that military training was harming natural and cultural resources. Under a federal court agreement, the Army was forced to stop firing live ammunition in the valley in 2001 until it completed an environmental impact study.

A draft EIS was issued in 2005, but a new draft was necessary because of developments the past three years, the Army said.