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'It looks like a tornado went through:' Danvers residents upset over pipeline work

DANVERS, Mass. — Residents at a Danvers condo complex are taking a stand against a gas pipeline company they claim chopped down several trees without warning.

Residents were set to meet with an attorney and two state legislators at the complex Monday evening.

They’re hoping to learn what more about what they can do to stop the destruction.

“At seven o’clock Tuesday morning, I woke up to chainsaws and I looked out and they were cutting down trees,” resident Rose Crocker explained.

The falling trees were a major shock to Crocker, who has lived at Royal Park for 15 years.

“It looks like a tornado went through,” she said.

It was the work of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, who told us they needed to clear the trees because of safety concerns.

But residents say they were never notified and the work being done went far beyond regular maintenance.

“Definitely didn't look like they were discriminating what trees were coming down,” said Crocker.

After the first day of work, Crocker and others parked in a protective barricade around the remaining trees, to keep the crews from coming back.

They say they just want more information, but that even town officials’ hands are tied.

“When I called town hall, this is private property. So there's not a lot they can do for us,” she said.

In a letter to residents, company officials said any disturbed lawn area would be restored as close to its original condition as possible.

But residents say it's already too late, the natural privacy and sound barrier is lying in splinters.

“They just destroyed our property values,” another resident told FOX25.

The following is a statement sent to FOX25 from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company:

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company is performing critical safety-related vegetation management along its pipeline right of way in the Peabody-Danvers area.  Notifications initially began in January, including mailing of written notifications, as well as site visits, follow-up phone calls and in-person contacts.

The work is critically important because Tennessee Gas (and indeed all pipeline companies) routinely aerially patrols pipelines to observe surface conditions for indications of leaks, third-party construction activity, erosion and other factors that may affect the safe operation of the pipeline.

Over the years, the tree canopy extends over the top of the pipeline right of way and limits the effectiveness of our aerial patrols, which then necessitates the trimming of trees.  In addition, trees and large vegetation growing within the easement must also be removed, because the root systems can damage the pipeline coating.

We have operated in Massachusetts for more than 70 years and are committed to being a good corporate citizen with an industry-leading operational safety record.

At all times, we seek to work amicably with local officials and landowners and are addressing any concerns that the Trustees and residents of the Royal Park condominiums may have.