VERPLANCK, N.Y. (AP) — Four protesters have emerged from an above-ground section of a steel natural gas pipeline that's being built underneath the Hudson River after they climbed into it to protest a pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York.

A protest group says Rebecca Berlin, Mackenzie Wilkins, Dave Publow and Janet Gonzalez entered a work site early Monday and entered the 42-inch pipeline near the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County before workers arrived.

A spokeswoman for the group says they don't think putting the pipeline under the river is safe. They're also protesting the pipeline's proximity to the nuclear plant.

Spectra Energy is building the pipeline. It says it respects peaceful protest, but says the protesters were placing themselves and first responders at risk. The company says the protesters went inside pieces of the pipeline being stored above ground.

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This story has been changed to correct that the pipeline hasn't been installed under the river yet and the protesters were in section of pipe stored above ground.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

 

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