BEAR MOUNTAIN -- Two large sections of Storm King State Park could be opened to the public within a month, officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced at a conference at the Bear Mountain Inn Thursday night.

The park has been closed since the summer of 1999, when a fire that burned through about 1,000 acres detonated about 30 unexploded artillery shells left there for generations.

The park is between the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Cornwall. The academy and a Cold Spring foundry had used the mountains as a backstop for artillery testing and practice from the 1800s until about 1940.

'Risk is minimal'

''I think the trails should be opened immediately,'' said Barbara Erdsneker, a resident of Nyack and one of 150 hikers, activists and political representatives who attended the meeting. ''The risk is minimal. We should let people enjoy the environment.''

Two sections amounting to roughly 1,400 acres have been deemed safe and are expected to open in September. The remaining risk is contained to a 450-acre portion of the park east of Route 9W and west of Route 218.

This section could be opened within two months, with strict guidelines to prohibit hikers from going off marked trails. The corps has cleared old artillery and debris from 25 feet off both sides of the trails.

Hunters would not be allowed access until a full cleanup is undertaken. Any future fires should be allowed to burn but be contained, avoiding any risk to firefighters, said corps project manager James Moore.

''All future plans must manage the issue of firefighting,'' he said.

Removal of the remaining shells is estimated to cost from $5 million to $7 million. The money would not be immediately available from the Department of Defense, according to Moore. Moore said Congress will have to appropriate the funding.

Moore praised the efforts of U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, who has worked to secure funding for the cleanup.

Others said continued political pressure will be necessary to secure more funding.

''We're not here to blame anyone. We're here to ask for the immediate opening of these trails,'' said Neil Woodworth, legal counsel for the Adirondack Mountain Club and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.