A five-year, $50 million contract was awarded to American Technologies Inc. to begin the removal of the unexploded ordnance in the area that includes Waikoloa and Waimea, but the problem is so extensive that it likely will take many more years and millions of dollars after the contract expires in 2008, according to Chuck Streck, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District.

The Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area received a top rating in a risk assessment because of the 20,000 or so people who live and work within the project's boundaries and the large number of tourists there.

The live ordnance found in the area includes grenades, bazooka rounds and hedgehog missiles. At least nine people have been killed or injured by old artillery rounds since the 1940s, and there have been more recent events in which unexploded ordnance were found near schools or uncovered by children at play.

The first phase of ordnance clearance was completed last August for 927 acres in Waikoloa, Waimea and Lalamilo. The second phase involves 1,100 acres in Waikoloa, Waimea and 'Ouli.

So far, 650 live rounds have been recovered, Streck said, with no injuries to staff or residents.

"We're finding lots of stuff," he said.

The project was expanded from 123,000 acres to 135,000 acres last year after undeveloped land between Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and the shoreline was determined to be of concern, Streck said.

"We've been able to cut down the 'frag zone' to the point where we can pretty much guarantee safety to 200 feet," he said.

Subsurface ordnance detectors have been refined to a point where they can distinguish between a pipe or other debris and a piece of ordnance, without requiring workers to dig it up. As a result, crews have been able to clear 35 percent to 40 percent more ground than before, Streck said.

The area's rough terrain still requires use of hand-held detection devices or a "towed array" mounted on a cart and pulled by workers.

"There's no other way to do it. It's too rough," he said.

Since the success of the cleanup depends on the cooperation of residents and land owners, Streck said one purpose of the training is to get more community members involved in the project through education and awareness. A second purpose is to have trained teams ready locally as jobs become available throughout the course of the contract and future work.

Entry-level unexploded-ordnance technicians earn about $18 to $20 per hour, he said.

It is not clear yet when or where the training will be held, although Streck said it should start before the end of the year. Training could be done either in Hawai'i or Texas, or perhaps in both places. Participants will not receive a salary during the five-week period, but all travel, lodging, food and training expenses will be paid.

Employment afterward is not guaranteed.

The Army Corps of Engineers will hold two meetings in Waimea and Waikoloa this week to provide information.