Gov. Paul LePage says he's upset that Summit Natural Gas has entered into an agreement requiring Maine contractors and subcontractors to sign union agreements in order to work on a steel pipeline.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Gov. Paul LePage says he's disappointed by a gas company's action he says will lock Maine contractors out of a construction project.

LePage says Summit Natural Gas has entered into an agreement requiring Maine contractors and subcontractors to sign union agreements in order to work on an 88-mile stretch of steel pipeline expected to cost $100 million. He says this will keep a largely non-union Maine construction force off the job.

Maine contractors' groups made similar claims in full-page ads in some Maine newspapers Thursday.

Summit's business development director, Mike Duguay, says the agreement sets industry standards for steel pipeline construction, and does not prevent non-union contractors from bidding.

Duguay says the steel pipeline through the Kennebec Valley is part of a $350 million project that includes plastic pipelines.