Crews today began the process of removing toxic debris from an Islandia housing complex for veterans.

A berm on the edge of the Veterans Way housing complex was found to contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals and banned pesticides.

Marine Sgt. Eric Petry and his family live right next to the cleanup site. "I think it's unsafe," he says. "I don't want to be breathing this stuff in, I don't want my kid to be breathing this stuff in."

The Long Island Builders Institute, which sponsored the affordable homes for veterans, is now paying more than $250,000 for the cleanup and for the Petrys to stay in a hotel for the next two to three weeks. Their home was also sealed off with plastic.

However, other residents are not being relocated during the cleanup, which has some environmentalists concerned. Adrienne Esposito, of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says residents need to have "a true judicious level of caution."

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is investigating the Islandia site, as well as three other sites in the town of Islip where toxic soil has been discovered.

The Petrys hope to be back in their home in time for Christmas.