General Dynamics and weapons testing in Jericho Vermont

Burlington-based General Dynamics Armament Systems also operates the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont for system development, qualification, and testing of armament and ammunition (See map). Between 1969-73 over 20,000 anti-tank rounds containing 4,500 kg (10,000 lb.) of depleted uranium (DU) was discharged at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Vermont. Afterwards, 4 inches of contaminated topsoil at the range was scrapped and shipped to the low level radioactive waste dump at Barnwell, South Carolina. -- Citation: G. Bukowski, D. A. Lopez, and F. M. McGehee III: Uranium Battlefields Home & Abroad: Depleted Uranium Use by the US Department of Defense; Rural Alliance for Military Accountability, Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, Citizen Alert, (March 1993).

While this soil scraping removed some of the depleted uranium it should be noted that DU rounds are designed to penetrate steel plating and other armor. It is quite likely that many of the depleted uranium rounds penetrated into the ground much further than 4 inches.

“Over time, fine DU dust particles deposited on the ground will be absorbed into the soil, while bigger DU fragments remain intact on the ground and start to corrode. In most cases, no more than 10% of the penetrators hit their intended target. DU penetrators that do not hit a target or hit 'soft' targets (non-armored vehicles) do not generate significant dust. Most munitions that impact on soft ground, such as clay or sand, penetrate intact into the ground (down to a few meters depending on the type of soil)” emphasis added citation: International Atomic Energy Agency, 2007

Some links about Ethan Allen Firing Range

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/camp-ethan-allen.htm

http://www.mil.state.vt.us/content/natural_resources.html

link for national "Merchants of Death" campaign against weapons manufacturers:

http://www.warresisters.org/MoD_coordinators.htm