Fixing the decades-old problem of cleaning up the thousands of tons of munitions dumped by the military at the end of World War II clearly will not be easy.

The fact that some of these munitions are encased in a coral reef makes matters worse. The sheer scope of the problem, exacerbated by deep waters, will surely raise the stakes and the pricetag of those efforts.

Tad Davis, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army based at the Pentagon in charge of environmental safety, has taken a sensible first step. Davis met last week with members of the Wai'anae Coast community to talk about the issue and to listen to the community's concerns.

Also encouraging is the Army's continued assessment of chemical disposal sites, including one 10 miles off Pearl Harbor. That's a good thing. As much information as possible will be needed to determine the right path going forward. Last-minute surprises would only increase costs and frustration over what already promises to be an expensive and lengthy effort.

The community has rightly demanded the munitions mess be taken care of, raising concerns over safety risks that might be posed by the explosive and chemical munitions. A study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed sediment samples had detectable levels of zinc and arsenic. Military officials say there is neither an "immediate danger" nor any long-term health risks.

But beyond those assurances, the Army — in conjunction with the Department of Defense and state and local officials — must determine a sensible, safe scope for the cleanup plan, with a reasonable timeline for the work to be completed. They also must come up with a plan that ensures health and safety, should future munitions wash ashore.

In assessing the problem and engaging the community, the Army seems willing to do the right thing, both for public safety and for our ocean and near-shore environment.

Moving ahead with a well- thought-out cleanup plan should be the next extension of those efforts.