Demolition crews have begun to tear apart the environmentally unsound barracks and other buildings at Camp Roberts that were World War II-era homes to hundreds of soldiers.

658 structures along Highway 101 north of San Miguel have stood unused for more than 30 years because changes to an environmental law halted demolition plans.

The homes were built using lead-based paint, and also have asbestos and disease risk from rodent droppings.

Camp Roberts built its own 85-acre hazardous waste landfill after a decade-long permitting process that ended this year.

The structures will be torn down in phases over three years. The first phase includes around 250 homes. The estimated cost is around 12 million for the entire demolition project.