Underhill Artillery Range (Burlington: real estate, military, ordinance) - Burlington, VT - Vermont (VT) - City-Data Forum

michael11747 · 02-10-2010, 11:47 AM

OK guys, what is the deal with this place? I have been eyeing up real estate in northwest Vermont, and the areas near this place are significantly cheaper. Do they just constantly shoot off missiles or something? Is the groundwater in the area safe? I have some experience with land near military reservations, and none of it is good. I don't want to make a big mistake...

harry chickpea · 02-10-2010, 01:01 PM

IIRC, GE makes the Vulcan cannons (high speed machine guns for air combat) at Burlington. There is testing of them and other ordinance at the range. The sound can carry pretty well and you can hear a low rumble for miles sometimes. I would guess there is some higher nitrate and powder residue levels in the area, and you might be able to mine the targets for lead. I've never heard mention of anything like a major hazard (unless you are an enemy combatant) being tested there.

Dwatted Wabbit · 02-10-2010, 06:06 PM

Hoping they don't test the enriched uranium minigun ammo there. That could be a bad...

mustmove · 02-10-2010, 09:12 PM

Despite VT's current permitting process there is no shortage of superfund sites in VT.

harry chickpea · 02-12-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwatted Wabbit

Hoping they don't test the enriched uranium minigun ammo there. That could be a bad...

LOL! Yeah, that would be REAL bad. I think you might have meant depleted uranium, not the fissionable stuff. Dunno if DU has been tested there. FWIW, because an area is a range, it doesn't mean the entire area has spent ammunition littering it. Target areas are assigned. Besides, shooting deer with a Vulcan would probably not leave much usable venison...