Matthew C. Wood

Area of Emphasis

Matt Wood is senior counsel in Babst Calland’s Environmental Group. He assists clients on a variety of environmentally-related legal matters arising under major federal and state environmental and regulatory programs, with a focus on issues involving government inquiries, environmental investigations, remediation and concomitant activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and their state analogs. In connection with this experience, he has advised clients during all stages of multi-year environmental remediation projects under consent decrees and administrative orders at sites across the U.S.

Mr. Wood counsels clients in the manufacturing, chemical, metals, and other sectors on permitting matters, compliance, enforcement actions, and government investigations and provides support on issue assessment, risk management, and strategy implementation to ensure effective client operations. His work often involves coordinating with technical consultants to prepare reports, position papers, and other deliverables for clients, agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. He also has experience with state and federal agency information requests and conducts environmental due diligence in transactional matters.

Background

Mr. Wood obtained a B.A. in Communications Studies from Brigham Young University in 2005. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, earning a J.D. and M.B.A., respectively. As a student, he was a finalist in Pitt Law’s Murray S. Love Mock Trial Competition and a member of one of two teams that represented Pitt Law at the prestigious Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition Regional Round held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wood served as a Certified Legal Intern for Pitt Law’s Elder Law Clinic where he counseled low income clients on legal matters related to guardianships and other family law issues and also spent a summer as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable G. Murray Snow of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.

Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Wood worked as an associate attorney for a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona. where he gained experience working on a variety of environmental matters at the county, state, federal, and tribal levels.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Wood is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Arizona, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.

Publications/Presentations

• Co-Author, “Grants Available Through Pennsylvania Grid Resilience Program Under Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Bucks County Appeals Dismissal of Climate Change Lawsuit,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Proposes OOOOc State Plan,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2025).
• Presenter, “PFAS Legal Update,” PIOGATech: PFAS/Water & Waste Management Training Seminar, July 30, 2025.
• Co-Author, “EQB Tables Petition for Study to Increase Required Minimum Setbacks from Unconventional Oil and Gas Wells,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 2 (2025).
• Co-Author, “Environmental Groups’ Petition to Amend Regulations to Increase Setbacks from Oil and Gas Wells Clears Initial Regulatory Requirements,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 42, No. 1 (2025).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Presents Update on the OOOOc Rulemaking to the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 4 (2024).
• Presenter, “Water Issues — PFAS,” PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s Annual Environmental Conference, October 24, 2024.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania PUC Approves Joint Motion to Implement Comprehensive Review to Reduce Application Processing Times,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 3 (2024).
• Co-Author, “Shapiro Administration Revises PPC Plan Policy to Require Operators to Disclose Drilling Chemicals,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2024).
• Co-Author, “EPA Designates Two PFAS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances and Issues Related Enforcement Policy Focused on ‘Major PRPs’,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, April 24, 2024.
• Author, “U.S. EPA Releases Second Annual Progress Report Updating its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, Highlighting Progress, Delays, and Future Actions,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, December 22, 2023.
• Co-Author, “University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Department of Health Release Studies Exploring the Relationships Between Unconventional Natural Gas Development and Specific Health Issues in Southwestern Pennsylvania,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2023).
• Co-Author, “PADEP Releases Draft Technical Guidance for the Development and Implementation of Oil and Gas Well Site Integrated Contingency Plans,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 3 (2023).
• Panelist, “PFAS,” WV Brownfields & Main Street Conference, September 12-14, 2023.
• Co-Author, “WVDEP Notifies Facilities of PFAS Reporting Requirements,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, September 11, 2023.
• Co-Author, “EPA Adds Nine PFAS Chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory Reporting List,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, August 1, 2023.
• Presenter, “The Regulatory Landscape: Intersection of Federal and State Standards,” Marcellus Shale Coalition’s Understanding PFAS Training, June 22, 2023.
• Co-Author, “In Response to Environmental Groups’ Request, PADEP Declines to Issue Order to Shell Plant to Cease Operations,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 2 (2023).
• Co-Author, “West Virginia Passes the PFAS Protection Act,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, May 1, 2023.
• Co-Author, “EPA Proposes National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Six PFAS Chemicals,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 6, 2023.
• Co-Author, “EQB Adopts Regulations Reducing Emissions from Unconventional and Conventional Operations,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 40, No. 1 (2023).
• Author, “EPA Adopts Updated Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Standard that Addresses PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants,” The PIOGA Press, January 2023.
• Author, “EPA Adopts Updated Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Standard that Addresses PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants,” Bast Calland Environmental Alert, January 4, 2023.
• Co-Author, “PADEP General Permit for Short Duration Processing and Beneficial Use of Oil and Gas Liquid Waste Available for Use,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 4 (2022).
• Panelist, “PFAS Forever Chemicals – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” WV Brownfields Conference, September 14, 2022.
• Co-Author, “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes Designating Certain PFAS as Hazardous Substances Under Superfund,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, September 1, 2022.
• Co-Author, “After Commonwealth Court Denies Challenge to Municipality’s Unconventional Drilling and Operations Ordinance, Citizen Group Petitions Pennsylvania Supreme Court for Review,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2022).
• Co-Author, “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Revises Regional Screening Levels and Regional Removal Management Levels and Implements Other Actions and Goals to Address PFAS,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, June 6, 2022.
• Co-Author, “EQB Seeks Public Comment on Drinking Water Rules for 2 ‘Forever Chemicals’,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 7, 2022.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board Proposes Drinking Water Regulations for Certain PFAS and Opens Public Comment Period,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, March 4, 2022.
• Co-Author, “Environmental Impacts from Construction of Mariner East 2 Pipeline Results in Charges of Environmental Crimes; Settlement Reached to Restore Marsh Creek Lake,” FRNEL’s Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2022).
• Co-Author, “2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap Outlines EPA’s Whole-of-Agency Approach to Addressing ‘Forever Chemicals’ through 2024 and Beyond,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, October 28, 2021.
• Author, “Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Releases PFAS Sampling Data and Proposes Drinking Water Standards for Two ‘Forever’ Chemicals,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 5, 2021.
• Author, “Pennsylvania DEP Releases New PFAS Sampling Data and Proposes Additional Actions to Address ‘Forever’ Chemicals,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, July 2, 2021.
• Co-Author, “PADEP Issues Guidelines for Implementing Area of Review Regulatory Requirement for Unconventional Wells,” RMMLF Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 4 (2021).
• Co-Author, “Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Dismisses Appeal of Unconventional Drilling Zoning Approvals,” RMMLF Mineral and Energy Law Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 3 (2021).
• Author, “EPA Releases and Requests Public Comment on Interim Guidance for Destroying and Disposing of Certain PFAS,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, January 28, 2021.
• Co-Author, “Governor Wolf Paves the Way for New Plastics Recycling and Manufacturing in Pennsylvania,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, December 4, 2020.
• Co-Author, “EPA Publishes Interim Guidance on Site Field Work Decision-Making Related to COVID-19 Impacts,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, April 15, 2020.
• Co-Author, “Partial Summary Judgment in Challenges to Unconventional Well Regulations,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 1, 2019.
• Co-Author, “EPA Announces PFAS ‘Action Plan,’ While Pa. and Other States Chart Their Own Courses,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 28, 2019.
• Co-Author, “EPA Announces its Action Plan to Adress PFAS Whiles States Push for Faster Response,” Babst Calland Environmental Alert, February 19, 2019.