People at two dozen businesses in Campbell Industrial Park were evacuated or asked to remain in their buildings for a couple of hours yesterday, as a Navy team was called to examine what appeared to be explosive ordnance discovered at a gas production business.

The Navy determined that the 17 rusted artillery rounds did not contain explosives. The evacuation was canceled and roadblocks lifted shortly after 12:30 p.m., Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said.

The shells were found at Air Liquide America Corp. at 91-163 Hanua St. Authorities were called about 10:30 a.m.

Navy spokeswoman Grace Hew Len said the 155 mm shells were in a 6-by-6-foot box placed outdoors. The shells were about 2 feet long, she said.

"We really don’t know where they came from or how they got to the location," she said. She said the Navy was unable to determine the age of the shells because of their condition.

An Air Liquide employee declined comment and referred inquiries to the firm’s public relations office in Houston. No one at that office could be reached for comment.