Michael LeVine is Pacific senior counsel at Oceana. He provides legal expertise and guidance for Oceana on issues in Alaska and along the Pacific coast, including oil and gas activities, industrial fishing and ocean acidification. https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/contributor/michael-levine/rss en Environment Wed, 18 May 2016 03:14:17 +0000 Michael LeVine https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2016/05/18/why-the-big-rush-to-sell-arctic-oil-leases https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/community/2016/05/18/why-the-big-rush-to-sell-arctic-oil-leases Big oil companies have abandoned $2.5 billion in drilling rights in the U.S. Arctic Ocean. In light of this, it is hard to find a compelling reason to sell more leases, writes Michael LeVine, Pacific senior counsel at Oceana.