Randall B. "Randy" Womack was elected to a one-year term as chairman of the Environmental Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association. As chairman, some of his responsibilities include organizing continuing legal education seminars and newsletters on environmental law issues. He notes that one benefit of the Environmental Law Section is that its small size allows members to get to know each other well and share information as a valuable resource.

1. "One of the benefits of our section is it's
relatively small, so I've enjoyed being
able to get to know and call on other
members. It's a great resource for
lawyers to share information."
- Randall B. "Randy" Womack
Name: Randall B. "Randy" Womack
Position: Member
Company Glankler Brown PLLC
Basics: Womack specializes in
environmental law and recently was elected to
a one-year term as chairman of the
Environmental Law Section of the
Tennessee Bar
Association.
Womack Elected to TBA Environmental Law Section
LESLEY J. GUDEHUS | Special to The Daily News
You might say business is cleaning up for Randall B. "Randy" Womack.
A member of Glankler Brown PLLC, Womack specializes in environmental
law and recently was elected to a one-year term as chairman of the
Environmental Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association.
Womack counsels people in businesses and other entities about federal, state
and local environmental laws, as well as rules and regulations in release
reporting, storm water permit requirements, underground storage tanks, real
estate transactions and Brownfields agreements, which
facilitate the sale or redevelopment of contaminated
properties. He often lectures on environmental issues.
Born in Memphis, Womack majored in political science and
minored in psychology and business at Middle Tennessee
State University before going on to earn his law degree and
master's in business administration in 1980 from the
University of Memphis. He is a member of the American Bar
Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources;
the Tennessee Bar's House of Delegates; and serves as a
member of the Memphis Bar's Environmental Law Section. In
addition to environmental law cases, Womack also specializes
in insurance, contracts and commercial litigation.
Q: What are some of the responsibilities of the TBA Environmental Law Section?
A: [Regarding the chairmanship] what we try to do is rotate between areas of the state, so this was
time for West Tennessee, and that is why I was elected as chairman. I've been a member of the
section for 10 years. Being a section of the Tennessee Bar Association, we are geared to be of service
and assistance to the members of the bar in environmental law matters. We put out at least four
newsletters a year and include some announcements relating to changes in environmental law and
[the achievements of] people. I think it's a great service to the bar, and it's something I look forward
to receiving myself.
We also have two major continuing education components. Generally we have two to three
seminars a year specifically in environmental law issues, as well as ethical issues and general issues
involving environmental law. We will hold these in Nashville or Jackson, Tenn. Then we will have a
hazardous waste seminar in Gatlinburg in the spring, and we'll meet with lawyers of government
environmental organizations.
The Environmental Law Section also helps finance travel for Environmental New Court
Competition teams. These are teams of law students who put together a presentation and argue it in
a sort of mock court setting designed to be like appellate court competitions.
One of the benefits of our section is it's relatively small, so I've enjoyed being able to get to know

2. and call on other members. It's a great resource for lawyers to share information.
Q: What kinds of environmental law cases do you handle?
A: For lawyers who practice environmental law in West Tennessee, it is not uncommon to
encounter water quality issues or cases involving compliance with water quality law that could be a
plant with water quality discharge or permits involved in water quality. This is not just processed
water discharge. It could be a plant or it could be filtration and erosion on a construction site. In
this area, people who practice environmental law might also work on cases involving air emissions
permits or asbestos regulations in demolitions, or the [Environmental Protection Agency] might
cite parties for violating environmental regulations.
I've also represented parties in superfund cost recovery actions. Under federal law, if you spend
money on cleanup, you may be entitled to cost recovery from other parties. I have a very general
practice - about 80 percent environmental law and 20 percent other. Some of it is real-estate
related. I represent people who want to be sure they are in compliance with environmental
regulations.
Q: What are some of the newer aspects of environmental law?
A: In the last few years, we've had the amendment commonly called the Brownfields Agreement.
[In 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Brownfields Revitalization Act, which helps
smooth redevelopment efforts for contaminated properties, or brownfields.] A Brownfields Cleanup
Agreement is required for all
who wish to participate in the Brownfields Cleanup Program [which started in 1995]. The
Department of Environment and Conservation is authorized to enter into these agreements on ...
properties that are contaminated or that have the threat of contamination that might affect the use
of the property.
The Brownfields Agreement helps companies acquire or lease properties that have future liability.
It's very complicated. Basically, the first time you sit down and contract, if you do A, B, C, D, you'll
have limited liability. The agreement limits the parties' responsibility when they do due diligence
for development or redevelopment. The statute calls them voluntary agreements, but the generic
term is Brownfields Agreement.
Q: Have you seen Al Gore's global warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth?"
A: I rarely get to see movies unless they're out on DVD. The last movie I went to see was "The Da
Vinci Code." All I can tell you [about "An Inconvenient Truth"] is it represents issues that are
worthy of examination and debate. We have to question how much of the cause of global warming is
human and how much is natural cycles. We certainly can improve our understanding to reduce the
effects. That doesn't have anything to do with being a Republican or a Democrat.