COLUMBUS, Ohio AP – Retired police officer Ed Hashbarger is watching in anger as drillers converge on his part of eastern Ohio, at times gaining access to coveted oil and gas deposits through a state law that can trump objections of individual property owners.

The U.S. Army veteran contends the practice called mandatory pooling violates his constitutional rights, his Catholic faith – which calls for safeguarding the environment – and what his country stands for.