Nine protesters against the Algonquin pipeline pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct Friday after blocking access to a construction yard in Montrose last month.

Critics of the natural gas pipeline say it is bad for the environment and dangerously close to the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

"The violation of the law pales in significance to the harm that they were trying to prevent," said pipeline critic Martin Stolar.

A trial date for the nine protesters has been set for Jan. 15.

In a statement to News 12, Spectra Energy called the project safe and able to "meet or exceed federal safety standards and regulations."

The statement continues, "We respect the right of individuals to peacefully protest and express their positions. However, we cannot condone actions that take critical public safety first responders away from their duties."

Meanwhile, work on the project has continued. In Cortlandt, workers have already bored a hole where they have installed a brand new section of the pipeline underneath Route 202.