Christina M. Puhnaty

Area of Emphasis

Christina Puhnaty is an associate in the Environmental Group of Babst Calland. She assists clients with matters encompassing a broad range of environmental issues, including those related to state and federal permitting, regulatory compliance, and environmental litigation.

Ms. Puhnaty devotes a significant portion of her practice to advising clients on compliance matters arising under the Clean Air Act and related state programs regulating air emissions. She manages air permitting matters and appeals and represents clients in connection with federal and state enforcement actions. Ms. Puhnaty has assisted companies with the disclosure of regulatory violations to state and federal agencies and has counseled clients in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. EPA, and various state agencies.

Ms. Puhnaty’s practice also involves counseling clients on a variety of federal and state regulatory issues related to both coal and noncoal mining operations.

Background

Ms. Puhnaty graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017, earning a B.S. in Chemistry. Before attending law school, she worked as an analytical chemist for PPG Industries in the microscopy and physical chemistry laboratories at its global Coatings Innovation Center in Allison Park, PA.

In 2021, Ms. Puhnaty graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School. While at UW Law, she served as a Senior Managing Editor for the University of Wisconsin Law Review and was a recipient of the Gwynette E. Smalley Law Review Prize for special contributions. Ms. Puhnaty was also the president of UW Law’s Environmental Law Society and served as a research assistant for then-Professor Linda S. Greene. During law school, she worked as a law clerk for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 5 office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Environmental Protection Unit, and the United States Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Memberships and Affiliations

Ms. Puhnaty is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. She is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA), American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), and Women’s Energy Network. She serves as a co-chair of the SEER Special Committee on Sponsorships, as a Membership and Inclusion Vice Chair for the SEER Air Committee, and as a member of the ACBA Environment and Energy Law Section Council. Ms. Puhnaty also serves as a co-chair of the Women’s Initiative Committee at Babst Calland.

Ms. Puhnaty received a 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America recognition for Environmental Law.

Publications/Presentations

• Presenter, “Implementation of Pennsylvania’s Existing Source Rule,” PIOGATech – Air Quality Training, December 17, 2025.
• Co-Author, “New EPA Webpage Compiles Clean Air Act Resources for Data Center & AI Projects,” Babst Calland Firm Alert, December 12, 2025.
• Co-Author, “FERC Approves Plan to Allow PJM to Recover Payments to Power Plant from Consumers,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 4 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Announces Permit Backlog Reduction of 98% and Broadens Eligibility of SPEED Program for Permit Review,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 4 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Reissuance of NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Associated with Mining Activities,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 4 (2025).
• Co-Author, “EPA Extends Certain Compliance Deadlines for Oil and Natural Gas Clean Air Act Requirements,” The PIOGA Press, September 2025.
• Co-Author, “EPA Extends Certain Compliance Deadlines for Oil and Natural Gas Clean Air Act Requirements,” GO-WV News, September 2025.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Pennsylvania RGGI Litigation,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Legislature Introduces Six Bills to Implement Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Rescinds Three Mining Technical Guidance Documents,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Announces Use of PennEnviroScreen in Permit Review Processes,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “EPA Extends Certain Compliance Deadlines for Oil and Natural Gas Clean Air Act Requirements,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, August 8, 2025.
• Co-Author, “Environmental Quality Board Proposes Changes to Notification Rules for Unauthorized Spills into Waters of the Commonwealth,” FNREL’s Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 58, No. 2 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Announces Rates to Be Used for Calculating Long-Term Operation and Maintenance Bonds for Water Supply Replacement,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 2 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP to Rescind and Revise Water Supply Replacement Technical Guidance Documents Due to Changes to Coal and Noncoal Regulations,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 2 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Announces Bond Rate Guidelines for the Calculation of Land Reclamation Bonds on Coal Mining Operations and Bond Schedule for Noncoal Mining Operations,” FNREL Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 2 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order Adding Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to Administration’s Broader Efforts to Improve Permitting Processes,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 1 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Environmental Quality Board to Consider Proposed Notification Rules for Unauthorized Spills into Waters of the Commonwealth,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 1 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Clarification for Blast Site Buffer Area in Noncoal Mining Operations Rules,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 1 (2025).
• Moderator, “All the Latest HAPpenings: The Transformation of the Clean Air Act’s Air Toxics Program,” ABA SEER’s 54th Spring Conference, March 26-29, 2025.
• Co-Author, “Trump Administration Day One Executive Orders: A Transformation of American Energy and Environmental Policies,” The PIOGA Press, February 2025.
• Co-Author, “Trump’s ‘Day One’ Executive Orders Transform Industry Policies,” GO-WV News, February 2025.
• Co-Author, “Trump Administration Day One Executive Orders: A Transformation of American Energy and Environmental Policies,” Babst Calland Firm Alert, January 23, 2025.
• Co-Author, “Trump Administration Day One Executive Orders: Regulatory Freeze,” Babst Calland Firm Alert, January 23, 2025.
• Co-Author, “OSMRE Approves Amendment to the Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 4 (2024).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Request for Information Regarding Clean Energy Campus Projects on Commonwealth’s Abandoned Mine Lands,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 3 (2024).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Revised Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flare General Permit,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 3 (2024).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Proposes Revised Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares General Permit,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2024).
• Co-Author, “PACER and PRESS Are Introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2024).
• Panelist, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s (EMLF) Careers in Energy Program, March 20, 2025.
• Co-Author, “Governor Shapiro Awards $101.1 Million in Grants for Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Projects,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2024).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Draft 2024 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2024).
• Co-Author, “A Methane Mixed Bag: EPA Finalizes Methane Rule for New and Existing Oil and Gas Facilities,” The PIOGA Press, February 2024.
• Co-Author, “A Methane Mixed Bag: EPA Finalizes Methane Rule for New and Existing Oil and Gas Facilities,” PIOGA eWeekly, December 18, 2023.
• Co-Author, “EPA Finalizes New Suite of Clean Air Act Regulations for Oil and Gas Industry,” The Legal Intelligencer, December 14, 2023.
• Co-Author, “A Methane Mixed Bag: EPA Finalizes Methane Rule for New and Existing Oil and Gas Facilities,” Babst Calland Energy Alert, December 12, 2023.
• Co-Author, “PADEP Finalizes General Operating Permit for Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Holds RGGI Rule Unconstitutional,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2023).
• Co-Author, “PADEP’s Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy Now in Effect,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania’s RGGI Working Group Concludes Work,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2023).
• Co-Author, “$7.8 Million in Grants Directed Toward Abandoned Mine Restoration Projects,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 3 (2023).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Draft General Permit for Coal Mine Methane Enclosed Flares,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 3 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Oral Argument Heard Regarding Pennsylvania’s RGGI Rule,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 3 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Remands EHB Fees Case,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Preempted by PHMSA Regarding November 2022 Incident at Natural Gas Storage Facility,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “The Future of Pennsylvania’s RGGI Rule Remains Uncertain,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania PUC Denies Petition to Reconsider Jurisdiction over Certain Class 1 Gathering Pipelines,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Holds Public Meetings Regarding Climate Action for Environmental Justice Communities,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “In Response to Environmental Groups’ Request, PADEP Declines to Issue Order to Shell Plant to Cease Operations,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “EPA Bets on Low-GHG Hydrogen and Carbon Capture & Sequestration Technologies in Latest Proposed Power Plant Clean Air Act Rule,” The Legal Intelligencer, June 8, 2023.
• Co-Author, “EQB Withdraws Proposed Water Quality Standard for Manganese,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 1 (2023).
• Co-Author, “Litigation Surrounding Pennsylvania’s RGGI Rule Continues,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 1 (2023).
• Co-Author, “EPA Doubles Down in Long-Awaited Supplemental Proposed Oil and Gas Methane Rule,” The PIOGA Press, December 2022.
• Co-Author, “Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Upholds Preliminary Injunction for RGGI Rule,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Rulemaking Review Committees Disapprove Proposed Water Quality Standard for Manganese,” FNREL’s Water Law Newsletter, Vol. 55, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Non-Regulatory Agenda for 2023 Focuses on Mining Program,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP’s RACT III Rule Requires Action from Major Sources of NOx and VOCs by End of Year,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Rulemaking Review Committees Disapprove Proposed Water Quality Standard for Manganese,” Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2022).
• Co-Author, “EPA Doubles Down in Long-Awaited Supplemental Proposed Oil and Gas Methane Rule,” Babst Calland Energy Alert, November 21, 2022.
• Co-Author, “EPA Publishes Proposed Rule Requiring All Major Stationary Sources to Account for Fugitive Emissions in NSR Permitting,” The PIOGA Press, November 2022.
• Co-Author, “EPA Publishes Proposed Rule Requiring All Major Stationary Sources to Account for Fugitive Emissions in NSR Permitting,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, October 17, 2022.
• Co-Author, “PADEP’s RACT III Rule Requires Action from Major Sources of NOx and VOCs by End of Year,” The Legal Intelligencer, October 6, 2022.
• Co-Author, “EPA’s Proposed Changes to Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Take on Greater Significance in ESG Era,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 4, 2022.
• Co-Author, “OSMRE Approves Amendments to Pennsylvania’s Regulatory Program for Beneficial Use of Coal Ash,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Finalizes Cap and Liner Guidance for Coal Refuse Disposal Areas,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Preliminary Injunction Granted for RGGI Rule,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “EQB to Finalize Rulemaking on Water Quality Standards for Manganese,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Eligible for Over $26 Million in Federal Funding to Help Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 3 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Publishes and Requests Comments on Draft Environmental Justice Policy,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Announces Bond Rate Guidelines for Coal and Noncoal Mining Operations,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Joins RGGI,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2022).
• Contributor, “Commenters Raise Questions About EPA’s Methane, VOC Proposal,” The American Oil & Gas Reporter, April 2022.
• Co-Author, “Several Critical Legal Issues Emerge from Comments on EPA’s Methane Proposal,” The PIOGA Press, April 2022.
• Co-Author, “PADEP Revises Air Pollution and Noise Control Plans for Three Mine Permits,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2022).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Final Guidance on Remining of Areas with Preexisting Pollutional Discharges,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Governor Wolf Vetoes Legislative Disapproval of RGGI Rule,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2022).
• Co-Author, “EQB Publishes Proposed Amendments to Anthracite Coal and Coal Refuse Disposal Regulations,” FNREL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2022).
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Producers Take Note: Five Key Changes in EPA’s Proposed Methane Rule,” The PIOGA Press, November 2021.
• Co-Author, “EPA’s Proposed New Oil and Gas Methane Requirements:  Where We Are and Where We Are Going,” Babst Calland Energy Alert, October 21, 2021.
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Draft Technical Guidance Regarding Synthetic Liners and Caps at Coal Refuse Disposal Areas,” RMMLF Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 4 (2021).
• Author, Biden Administration: Ag Industry Can Help Combat Climate Change, State Bar Wis.: Env’t L. Section Blog (Mar. 8, 2021), https://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/Pages/General-Article.aspx?ArticleID=28264.