NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam today named Robert "Bob" Martineau Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

Martineau is a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, PLLC, practicing in the area of environmental and regulatory law, and he has extensive experience working with companies on the development and implementation of corporate environmental management programs and auditing programs.

The announcement...

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan Cooper will remain in her position on an interim basis as Governor-elect Bill Haslam today announced the formation of a new Tennessee Health and Wellness Commission.

The purpose of the commission is to assemble members of public health agencies, private health interests, business, education, health consumers and other stakeholders to develop strategies to improve the overall health and wellness of Tennesseans.

Dr. John Lacey, the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of UT Medical Center and a practicing general internist, will chair the commission for Gov.-elect Haslam.

The announcement...

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam today named Steve Cates Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services.

The Department of General Services operates the functions of state government, including building management, printing and photographic services, food services, records management, warehousing and procurement.

Cates has been a partner in Cates-Kottas Development since 1991, helping to build some of Middle Tennessee’s most beautiful neighborhoods.

The announcement...

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R. Neal's picture

Scorecard

• Department of Agriculture: Julius Johnson
• Department of Children's Services: Kathryn O’Day
• Department of Finance & Administration: Mark Emkes
• Department of Financial Institutions: Greg Gonzales (retained)
• Department of Human Services: Raquel Hatter
• Department of Intellectual Disabilities: Jim Henry (new office)
• Department of Military: Max Haston (retained)
• Department of Safety/ Office of Homeland Security: Bill Gibbons
• Department of Transportation: John Schroer
• Department of Tourist Development: Susan Whitaker (retained)
• Department of Corrections: Derrick Schofiel
• Department of Revenue: Richard Roberts
• Department of Economic & Community Development: Bill Hagerty
• Department of Commerce & Insurance: Julie Mix McPeak
• Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities: Doug Varney
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Colonel Many-Bears Grinder
• Department of Labor & Workforce Development: Karla Davis
• Department of Personnel: Rebecca Hunter
• Department of Environment & Conservation: Bob Martineau
• Department of General Services: Steve Cates

• Department of Education: ?
• Department of Health: ?

jbr's picture

TDEC appointment

Pretty disappointing. Exactly what qualifies as a conflict of interest?

He represents clients before the EPA, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, other state agencies and the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board in commenting on proposed regulations and in administrative proceedings. He also defends companies in federal and state and citizen suit enforcement proceedings under various environmental statutes, including several companies responding to EPA's New Source Review (NSR) enforcement initiative.

Mr. Martineau served as co-counsel for a large utility company in defense of an EPA enforcement action for alleged violations of Clean Air Act PSD requirements. He also counseled an automotive company in negotiating and obtaining greenfield site environmental permitting for the construction of a $1.4 billion dollar manufacturing facility. Mr. Martineau defended a large manufacturing facility against a challenge by citizens and environmental groups to air permits issued by the state permitting authority.

(link...)

It looks like some other attorneys in that firm may have been on possibles list earlier...
(link...)

jbr's picture

Looks like the TDEC

Looks like the TDEC commissioners firm has done a lot of environmental work related to TDEC ...

The Tennessee Road Builders Association (TRBA) did intervene, according to James Weaver, the association’s high-powered Nashville attorney

This change came about thanks to the hard work and deep pockets of TRBA. In March, they flew California-based consultant Carol Forrest, a widely respected erosion control expert, to Nashville. In the spacious top-floor conference room of the downtown law firm Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, Forrest presented her research to 50 people, including representatives of TDEC, TDOT, the attorney general’s office, the SouthWest Williamson County Community Association (SWWCCA), the original complainants, private contractors and other interested parties. Predictably, Forrest said the standards shouldn’t trigger automatic penalties.

The article ...

(link...)

Battle is on over Nashville emissions testing contract

To help ensure its contract is extended, SysTech has hired powerful lobbyist James Weaver from the firm Waller, Lansden, Dortch and Davis

"It's a little bit like digging ourselves a bit more of a hole to climb out of with the EPA," Paul said.

But despite the EPA's potential stricter air quality regulations, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is pressing forward with plans to roll out remote sensing technology in Williamson County in 2011.

Tennessean article
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Water Quality Legislation

The Responsible Water Coalition—an unprecedented alliance of business, agriculture, and elected officials, organized and led by Waller Lansden's Regulatory Affairs practice—worked with legislators, regulators, and the environmental community for two years to pass the legislation.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, and Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville

Bankers?

The Responsible Water Coalition united groups as diverse as bankers, homebuilders, road builders, farmers, and business owners to coordinate their messages, compile documentation and case studies, and communicate with lawmakers concisely and effectively

Article
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WhitesCreek's picture

My first assessment of the Martineau appointment...

We're screwed.

S Carpenter's picture

...

UGH.

R. Neal's picture

Thanks for digging all that

Thanks for digging all that up jbr. I am not at all surprised, given the brief bio. The regulated become the regulators...

Mello's picture

State of North Carolina v TVA

***

Adam J's picture

Martineau's Contributions

New visitor to this site while doing research on the TDEC appointment.

I decided to look up Mr. Martineau's contributions on opensecrets.org.

All of his donations there (save one) are to Democrats, which was a bit surprising:

Howard Dean, Harold Ford, John Edwards, Roy Herron, Tennessee Democratic Party, and President Obama.

Make of it what you will.

jbr's picture

Folks from that firm look

Folks from that firm look like they do a lot of donating to a lot of candidates. Looks like contributions from the members of firm to ...

Rock City PAC
Affiliate: Bob Corker (R-Tenn)
Location: Franklin, TN 37069
Industry: Leadership PACs; Republican leadership PAC
Treasurer: Kaegi, Kimberly
FEC Committee ID: C00436410

Bob Corker
Fred Thompson
Marsha Blackburn
Lamar Alexander
Bill Frist
Van Hillary
Ed Bryant
Mike Pence
Robin Smith
Mitt Romney
Charlie Ross
Eric Cantor
etc.

The long donation list on Opensecrets.org...
(link...)

jbr's picture

At "Follow The Money" web

At "Follow The Money" web site ...

WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS
Lawyers & Lobbyists
2004-2010 Company or PAC $115,127 $0 Employees $301,815 Total $416,942

The search link ...

(link...)

I am more concerned about who they represent. So what if they give Jim Cooper $250. Could be meaningless.

WhitesCreek's picture

I'm not giving up hope...

that we'll see Bob Martineau carry on in the awesome fashion of his predecessor, Jim Fyke. Fyke, while I have my grievances with certain things, set a high bar for service to the people of Tennessee. At this point, given Haslem's anti TDEC campaign rhetoric and Martineau's history of fighting on the side of the polluters, I have to say I'm concerned.

Update: I am getting cautious optimism from my sources who know Bob Martineau. They think we dodged a bullet compared to some names on the short list. Encouraging.

jbr's picture

Maybe I am being too cynical

Maybe I am being too cynical but it seems like it is a "It's not as bad as it could have been" sort of thing.

R. Neal's picture

Our best hope is that, as a

Our best hope is that, as a professional paid advocate, he will fight just as hard for the side now paying him as he did the other side when they were paying him.

jbr's picture

I guess I am missing

I guess I am missing something. Based on the past it looks like his firm will likely be in court cases against TDEC, of which he is commissioner.

R. Neal's picture

What I'm saying is that it

What I'm saying is that it appears that in the past he was getting paid to advocate for his clients, the corporate polluters. Now he is getting paid to advocate for the people of Tennessee and our environment.

A good lawyer should be able to vigorously argue either side of a case. We just have to hope he's on the right side, i.e. the side of the people paying him now.

jbr's picture

Sorry about confusion, I

Sorry about confusion, I wasn't referring to your post, although I can see why it looks that way. Was a general statement about the appointment.

WhitesCreek's picture

Tennessee Conservation Commission Mtg

Is this coming Friday in Nashville. We'll know more then, as one of the items on the agenda is the new regime and its goals for conservation and the environment.

On Thursday night the Commission is honoring Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Fyke for all their accomplishments of the last eight years, and they are substantial. The reception is hosted by Congressman and Mrs. Cooper at their home in Nashville.

I'll report back.

jbr's picture

Martineau looks to have

Martineau looks to have represented GM in this EPA case.

Link

Looks like another partner from that firm was appointed TDEC commissioner from 1996-97

From an article on "Center for Public Integrity" web site titled "The Bush Team: Bush’s Choice of EPA Advisers Signals Tilt Toward Industry"

Justin P. Wilson, who is Tennessee Gov. Donald Sundquist’s top policy aide, has faced off with the federal government, on the side of Tennessee industries, over ground-level ozone emissions, commonly called smog, that harm northeastern states. He was a partner in the Nashville law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis until he was appointed to be the state Department of Environment and Conservation’s commissioner from 1996 to 1997.

The article

Looks like they represented the developers of Turkey Creek

major development projects including the Cool Springs commercial development in Franklin, Tennessee; the Turkey Creek commercial development in Knoxville, Tennessee; and downtown Nashville's new Viridian, ICON, Encore and Signature Towers. Waller Lansden also represents several of the state's largest trade associations, including the Tennessee Road Builders Association, American Resort Development Association and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others.

Article

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