He phoned neighbor Kathy Chandler. He warned her that surveyors were headed her way.

On Tuesday, one day after being blocked from entering Green Hollow Drive by Chandler and about three dozen other opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a survey crew returned soon after 6 a.m. to examine the property of Chandler and her family, who live at the end of the one-mile road.

On Monday, Roanoke County Police Sgt. Chris Kuyper had suggested to the surveyors that they seek a court order before returning. That didn’t happen.

Mountain Valley Pipeline has said the company does not need a court order if it has followed the provisions of a controversial state law that allows a natural gas company to survey private property without an owner’s consent as long as proper notice of survey activity has been provided.

Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for the pipeline company, reiterated that stance in an email Tuesday.

“The MVP project team remains confident that we have the legal authority under Virginia statute to access property for survey activity and expects to continue this important survey work in accordance with the strict requirements of Virginia law,” Cox said.

The Chandlers’ property is being considered by Mountain Valley as part of a potential route for the 42-inch diameter pipeline the company wants to bury through the region to transport natural gas at high pressure from West Virginia to another pipeline in Pittsylvania County.

And Mountain Valley is considering designating Green Hollow Drive as a pipeline access road.

The sunrise entry surprised and angered Chandler and others who own property along the road, including Kermit Crowe.

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The Roanoke Times – Duncan Adams – 07/11/2017