DENVER (AP) - The state health department is asking the Army to investigate claims that elevated levels of uranium have been found in soil samples at an Army practice range in southeastern Colorado.

Jim Martin, director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, said Tuesday that recent fires at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site have heightened concern over the potential for uranium to become airborne in smoke from the fire.

"I respectfully request that the Army take any and all necessary steps to investigate and characterize the potential for elevated concentrations of uranium in soil at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site and evaluate any associated health threats," Martin said in a letter sent to Fort Carson's commanding general, Major Gen. Mark Graham.

Tom Warren, deputy garrison commander for the training site, through a spokeswoman said they will consider the recommendation and work with the state and federal agencies.

The high uranium levels were disclosed last week after Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, said he collected seven samples during a tour of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site and had them analyzed by an independent laboratory in Nebraska.

Martin said although the level of uranium does not indicate an imminent public health threat, "it would be prudent to ascertain whether there are elevated levels of uranium in soil, whether the uranium is naturally occurring or anthropogenic (manmade), and whether the presence and concentrations pose any potential risks to human health or the environment."

According to the report from Olsen's Agricultural Laboratory Inc. in McCook, Neb., the lab also found detectable levels of the toxic metals cadmium, chromium and lead.

McKinley said the samples were collected over two thirds of the 368-square-mile site in May 2007 with the permission of the Army during a tour for state officials.

Post spokeswoman Karen Linne said no weapons that would use depleted uranium are fired at the site.

McKinley said the samples showed uranium levels as high as 60 parts per million. For comparison, McKinley noted the state had required a Cotter Corp. uranium mill in Canon City to clean up its site when uranium levels there reached 27 ppm. Nearby neighborhoods were designated a Superfund site in 1984.

McKinley said Colorado's normal background radiation level is 5 to 6 ppm.

Warren Smith, manager of the state health department's hazardous materials division, said there were unconfirmed reports that the maneuver site, used to train tank divisions, and had been used as a dumping site in the 1980s for hazardous materials, but no evidence was found to support those allegations.

"There was talk at one time of temporarily storing radioactive material," he said.

He said the state has no standard for requiring contamination cleanup because it depends on the amount of material found, the land use and exposure to the general public.

He said there is no risk to the general public and it would be up to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to investigate.

The Army wants to expand the Pinon Canyon to nearly 1,000 square miles, citing changing needs and expanding troop numbers at Fort Carson. McKinley said he waited more than a year to release the findings while he repeatedly asked the Army to discuss the expansion.