WAIMANALO — The Marine Corps yesterday outlined steps it and the city will take to ensure public safety and protect the environment at campsites in the Marine Corps Training Area, Bellows, including barriers to keep vehicles off the beach and greater enforcement presence.

Col. Robert Rice, commander for Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said at a press conference yesterday at Bellows that recent infractions there by weekend users prompted him to close the campsite during the month of June while different agencies work to mitigate problems.

The city will install signs with rules, parking will be clearly delineated and the front gate will be manned to prevent people from bringing in construction debris and all-terrain vehicles, Rice said.

"We are all about protecting the 'aina and enforcing the rules," Rice said. "We want this to be a safe, family-friendly environment for everybody. We want them to leave it the way they found it: a pristine environment."

The Marines announced its decision to temporarily suspend public use of the training area after arrests on Memorial Day weekend. Illegal activities such as drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins had gone too far, Marine officials said.

While people agree the environment needs to be protected, some questioned closing down a popular campsite at the beginning of summer.

Wilson Ho, chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, said the police have things under control and closing the campsite will create a hardship, especially for families who had planned to spend their vacation camping instead of spending more money to travel.

Some 1,000 people visited the area on Memorial Day weekend and only five people were detained, Ho said. "That's less than 1 percent of the people."

Bill Brennan, a city spokesman, said 50 camping permits were issued for the first two weekends in June. Permits are issued two weeks in advance so none were given out for the last two weeks of June, Brennan said.

"We're not canceling the permits for this weekend or next, just in case there's a change of heart (today) or tomorrow," he said. "But we won't take permit applications for the following weeks."

In April, the Marines gave the city until July 4 to make agreed-upon changes at Bellows but there was no talk of closing it down, Brennan said, so the recent announcement was a surprise.

"The mayor doesn't believe the closure is necessary or warranted," Brennan said, adding that the work can be done during weekdays, when camping is not allowed.

Maj. Alan Crouch, a Marine Corps spokesman, said the decision wasn't made suddenly or lightly. The base commander had been aware of problems since last year and had been working with the city, but the illegal dumping on Memorial Day was a deciding factor, Crouch said.

When an enforcement officer approached people dumping litter, one of them became belligerent and it was necessary to call base patrol to help control the situation, Crouch said.

People driving vehicles on the beach — possibly leaking fluids, endangering sunbathers and parking on tree roots, which could kill trees — was another reason for taking action, Crouch said.

"Although it seems sudden, this is for the sake of protecting the environment and protecting all those who visit this beautiful place," Crouch said.