The first stage of the volunteer selection process for a Bely Island environmental expedition has ended in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. The expedition will take place on August 1-21, the Arctic-Info Agency reported.

Most of the candidates have been on expeditions in the past. They were joined by volunteers from Lukoil — West Siberia. Two participants were also selected during the Arctic Urals special shift. In total, 20 candidates are competing for spots in the expedition.

Among the volunteers are residents of Moscow, Samara, Sevastopol, the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Kurgan regions, and the Khanty-Mansy and Yamal-Nenets autonomous areas, as well as nationals of Israel and Belarus.

The second stage will include training in Salekhard and the Polar Urals.

Participants in the upcoming expeditions will complete a clean-up of the territory of the Popov polar sea hydrometeorological station and the area where a military unit was previously located. In total, the volunteers will have to collect and remove over 40 tonnes of scrap metal.

The expedition will include 10 Russian Center for Arctic Development employees. They will provide accommodations and food for the volunteers and will service the expedition's equipment.