Authorities have arrested nearly a dozen protesters who locked themselves to steel drums at the construction site of Dominion Virginia's Wise County coal-fired power plant.

County Commonwealth's Attorney Ron Elkins says the 11 arrested at the site in St. Paul Monday were charged with unlawful assembly, trespassing and obstructing justice, all misdemeanors. They were taken before a magistrate in Wise, and Elkins says they'll be arraigned later this week.

About 30 people entered the site of about 6 a.m. Monday to protest Dominion's $1.8-billion coal-fired power plant. Many stuck their arms through holes in steel drums that were chained to an entrance gate.

Holbrook said a fire crew was called to cut the protesters free from the drums, but they removed their arms as firefighters began sawing the tops off.

The protesters say the 585-megawatt power plant poses a health risk and would create a greater demand for coal derived from mountaintop removal mining.