Facing competition, declining fossil fuel demand, and weak support in Canada for new pipelines, Enbridge is working overtime to convince Michiganders that we’re dependent on Line 5, but that’s not true.
On July 22, join Flow Water Advocates and Oil & Water Don’t Mix for a special live webinar, as our panel of experts and advocates discuss recent developments in the Line 5 litigation, why the tunnel isn’t good for Michigan, and how you can get involved.
Did you know that…
- Enbridge was responsible for the devastating 1.2 million gallon oil spill in Marshall, Michigan — one of the worst in U.S. history.
- 80-90% of the crude oil carried by Line 5 goes from Canada, to Canada.
- The State of Michigan is the legal trustee of the Straits, and has the power and duty to protect them for the benefit of Michiganders.
- Enbridge still needs permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to build the tunnel.
Our expert panel includes:
- Riyaz Kanji, founding member and Directing Attorney of Kanji & Katzen – representing the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Carrie La Seur, Legal Director, Flow Water Advocates
- Skip Pruss, Senior Legal Advisor, Flow Water Advocates
- Beth Wallace, Climate and Energy Director, National Wildlife Federation and Co-Director of the Great Lakes Business Network
Hosted and moderated by Flow staff attorney Kacey Cook.
This online webinar is free, and supported in part by the Mackinac Island Community Foundation’s Natural Resources and Preservation Fund and the Straits Area Community Foundation.
About the panelists
Riyaz Kanji, Founding Member and Directing Attorney, Kanji & Katzen
Riyaz Kanji is a founding member of Kanji & Katzen, PLLC, a firm whose mission is to advance Tribal sovereignty. A graduate of Harvard College and the Yale Law School, Riyaz served as a law clerk to the late Honorable Betty Fletcher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Justice David Souter of the United States Supreme Court. He is an advisor to and vocal cheerleader for the Tribal Supreme Court Project. Riyaz represents Tribes at all levels of the federal court system, and was part of the team that argued and won the decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma vindicating the continued existence of the Muscogee Creek Reservation.
Carrie La Seur, Legal Director, Flow Water Advocates
As Flow’s Legal Director, Carrie develops and implements legal and policy strategies to maximize protection of public trust resources and uses. A graduate of Yale Law School, Carrie recently relocated to northern Michigan from Montana, where she practiced civil litigation, specializing in environmental and climate issues. From 2006-2012 served as Executive Director of Plains Justice, a legal nonprofit she co-founded, litigating against new fossil fuel infrastructure.
Skip Pruss, Senior Legal Advisor, Flow Water Advocates
Skip Pruss is an energy expert with decades of experience in both the public and private sector. He is a former cabinet member and director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth, as well as the former chief energy officer for the State of Michigan, under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, where he was responsible for designing and implementing Michigan’s clean energy economy diversification efforts.
Earlier in his career, Skip served as Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Skip also is a co-founder of 5 Lakes Energy LLC, a clean energy technology consultancy.
Beth Wallace, Climate and Energy Director, National Wildlife Federation and Co-Director, Great Lakes Business Network
Bio coming soon!
