For 60-plus years there have been unregulated and undocumented use and abuse of Makua Valley, including bombardment by ships, planes, helicopters, tanks, artillery and bullets.

From 1941 to the present, there has been an open burn or open detonation of unserviceable ordnance and approximately 1,816 kilograms (over 3,000 lbs.) of toxic or hazardous chemicals, according to a 1992 University of Hawai'i report. The primary method of disposal was to dig a hole in the ground, place in it unserviceable ordnance or toxic or hazardous chemicals, pour in diesel fuel, contaminated gasoline or contaminated jet fuel and burn it. Using this disposal technique, the Army destroyed 350 900-lb. napalm bombs.

The following have been measured by the Army at Makua, exceeding the EPA's lifetime exposure health criteria: arsenic; lead (three times the EPA criteria); DNT, an explosive chemical material used in ordnance (66 times the EPA criteria); and PCB, a chemical for which no record of use at Makua is available (1,653 times the EPA criteria). This information is from a summary of the Halliburton Study completed in March 1994 and included in the Dec. 18, 2000, final supplemental environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, which the Army withdrew.

An overwhelming majority in the Wai'anae community and the public who have chosen to comment have requested an environmental impact statement. There are two reasons the Army can't do an EIS:

• It would set a precedent for all active ranges under the Army's control, and the generals above Maj. Gen. Dubik can't let that happen.

• The Army is afraid of the possible results of an EIS and cannot guarantee in perpetuity the health and safety of Wai'anae residents.