NEW MILFORD TOWNSHIP -- After protests and court action, an area of maple trees in Susquehanna County is being cut down to make way for a gas pipeline.
The Holleran family and their supporters watched as chainsaws cut down trees Tuesday morning near New Milford to make way for a natural gas pipeline.
A court order cleared the way for the Williams company to cut down the trees so the company could build its natural gas pipeline.
Protestors watched as the trees came down. The hills of New Milford Township echoed with the sound of chainsaws and trees hitting the ground.
The property is owned by Megan Holleran who fought to try to stop this from happening.
"Perhaps, mistakenly, I was hoping for a little more compassion and obviously, I should have known better," said Holleran.
Holleran says the pipeline is killing her trees and her livelihood. She points out this section was the only one where her family tapped maple trees, to make maple syrup.
The Williams company received permission from the courts to do this through eminent domain. The Holleran family's hands were tied.
A Williams spokesman claims the pipeline company did have compassion that Holleran said was lacking.
"We were able to reroute the pipeline, still on their property, but in a way to minimize the overall impact," said Michael Atchie, Williams public outreach manager, adding it was the best they could do.
Because a federal court approved the cutting of the trees, heavily armed U.S. Marshals, along with state police, were on hand to keep the peace.
Other than some shouts, the sides stayed apart.
The trees may be down, but Megan Holleran has not given up the fight. She promises more court action.
"If this pipeline doesn't get built, and they caused all this damage to our property for no reason, there are certainly things I can do then," Holleran added.
In the meantime, all she can do now is watch and receive the support from her friends.
The natural gas pipeline is designed to deliver Marcellus shale gas to New York and New England.
