Overview

Garry Kaufman is an experienced environmental attorney, specializing in air quality law. With 24 years of experience working on complex air quality matters as a private practice attorney, government lawyer, and air quality regulator, he has a broad and deep understanding of the challenges facing regulated entities across multiple industries with respect to permitting, compliance, and policy matters. Garry works out of our Santa Fe and Denver offices.

Garry has over two decades of experience working closely with upstream and midstream oil and gas operators. During this time, he has developed extensive insight into the legal, technical, and political challenges facing these industries.

As a private practice attorney, Garry has advised clients in the energy and mining sectors regarding a full range of air quality matters, including air quality policy, rule development, permitting, administrative enforcement actions and appeals, and litigation at the state and federal levels. This includes serving as a lead air quality expert for a team challenging the legality of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, which ultimately led to the Supreme Court staying the implementation of that plan in 2016.

Through his career in government service, Garry has developed a deep knowledge of how regulatory agencies function from a myriad of perspectives. This insight allows him to work closely with clients to develop effective and successful strategies in addressing their regulatory challenges. Garry has been a key participant in efforts to develop air quality requirements for oil and gas operations, including leading Colorado’s efforts in adopting first-in-the-nation regulations in 2014, which have been a model for both the federal Environmental Protection Agency and states across the country. Garry has a reputation for consensus-building, which allows regulators to address air quality goals while ensuring that requirements are technically feasible, cost-effective, and allow operators to continue to fulfill their vital role in powering our country.

With over two decades of experience in air quality law, Garry has been at the forefront of developing regulatory strategies that balance environmental goals with industry needs. From leading Colorado’s nationally recognized methane reduction regulations to shaping air quality policies that have influenced the EPA and states across the country, Garry brings unparalleled insight and leadership to Beatty & Wozniak. His ability to navigate legal, technical, and political landscapes makes him an invaluable addition to our firm and clients.

Representative Experience

Regulatory and Policy

  • Over 20 years of experience working on complex air quality regulatory matters affecting a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors including oil and gas, mining, electric generation and heavy industrial
  • Extensive experience representing oil and gas sector clients in rulemakings before the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission
  • Led Colorado’s development of new air quality regulations for the oil and gas industry that have become a model for both the federal Environmental Protection Agency and states across the country
  • In depth expertise in a wide range of state and federal air quality programs including ozone non-attainment, regional haze, climate change, 111(d) plans, fuel strategies and new source review permitting
  • Advised clients in the energy and mining sectors regarding a full range of air quality matters, including air quality policy, rule development, permitting, and administrative enforcement actions
  • Extensive experience collaborating with important stakeholders such as the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Legislature, USEPA, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Energy Office, Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, industry trade groups, and environmental organizations

Litigation

  • Served as lead air quality legal expert on team challenging the legality of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, which ultimately led to the Supreme Court staying the implementation of that plan in 2016
  • Represented electric utility client in connection with challenges to the EPA’s Regional Haze Federal Implementation Plan for Wyoming before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals involving approximately $750 million dollars in emission controls
  • Served as lead counsel for Colorado in civil and administrative air quality enforcement before the Colorado Court of Appeals, Colorado District Courts, and the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission
  • Trial practice specializing in commercial litigation, legal and medical malpractice defense

Professional Affiliations

  • Colorado Oil and Gas Association
  • Western Energy Alliance
  • New Mexico Oil and Gas Association

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