(ria.ru) - This May marks the start of the third season of the large-scale Clean Arctic project to clean up the Russian Arctic. Last year, more than 30 expeditions took place in all nine Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. Volunteers cleared the White Sea petroglyphs in Karelia, dismantled an abandoned station on Mount Lekvozh in the YaNAO, took part in the disposal of an abandoned ship in Murmansk and cleanup at the Kola Superdeep. Andrey Nagibin, head of the project office, told RIA Novosti correspondent Pavel Zyuzin about what pollutes the Russian Arctic, why it is necessary to develop the Northern Sea Route to clean it, what difficulties volunteers face during cleaning, and what plans the Clean Arctic has for 2023.
Mr. Nagibin, what territory of the Arctic has already been cleared by the project volunteers and how much waste has been removed?
In the second season of the Clean Arctic project, which ended in October last year, we collected about 3,300 tons of waste in an area of over 230 hectares. In just two years, we have cleared about 340 hectares and removed almost five thousand tons of waste.
Why is there so much garbage in the Arctic if the population of the polar regions is small?
For decades, the attitude of man to the regions of the Far North was exclusively consumerist. Exploring the Arctic, we imported thousands of pieces of equipment, tons of fuel and lubricants, products and building materials, in general, everything that is needed for life and work in extreme conditions. Imported, used and left, accumulating a huge amount of waste. I myself, as a young navigator, participated in the so-called northern delivery. Even then, I was outraged by the fact that we always returned in ballast, that is, with empty holds. And we could consistently remove human waste from the Arctic as these spaces are developed. As a result, millions of tons of garbage have been accumulated. It's time to put things in order in the Arctic. And this task is being systematically solved today thanks to the synergy of responsible business, volunteers and the state.
What types of waste do volunteers collect?
First of all, everything that a person can remove without the use of heavy equipment is fallen trees, construction and household waste. When there is a technical possibility, we rake up piles of metal and abandoned buildings. The scrap metal is then sent for recycling. One of the best examples of last year was the scrapping of a rusty ship on the shores of the Kola Bay in Murmansk.
If a volunteer finds hazardous waste, including radioactive waste, what measures are taken?
Before organizing a volunteer expedition, a reconnaissance of the territories is mandatory. We must be sure that the waste that our volunteers will clean up is safe. This applies to a huge number of various barrels and other containers in which dangerous substances could be stored. Disposal of this kind of waste requires appropriate expertise and permits. I note that a team of technical support always works in a team with volunteers. It consists of specialists in assessing the degree of danger of certain wastes.
Is the goal of the project to get rid of only the "Soviet legacy" or to remove all the garbage, including the one that is currently accumulating?
We do not divide the garbage accumulated in the Arctic into old and new, into the one that we collect and the one that does not concern us. Of course, we remove everything. Paradoxical as it may seem, the main problem we face is Russian legislation. For example, by collecting waste in one place before taking it out, we create a conditional unauthorized dump. That is, by doing a good deed, volunteers formally break the law. The problem is indeed serious, it concerns all such volunteer activities to clean up territories in our country. At the first youth environmental forum held in Kamchatka, we were able to voice this problem and directly address the president with a request to protect such projects. We hope that our proposals will be worked out and the gaps in the legislation will be eliminated.
How is the garbage disposal process?
If this is some kind of abandoned equipment and other scrap metal, then it is brought to the port berths, cut into pieces, after which it is transported by barges and other transport vessels to the mainland for remelting. Now we are faced with the task of making it profitable for transport companies to remove waste from the Arctic regions. Together with the regional authorities, we are working on various options.
Alexei Chekunkov, the head of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East, said that the Northern Sea Route (NSR) would also be used to transport waste from the Arctic. Is it clear how this will happen?
Without the NSR, the project cannot be implemented in principle; there are no other options. If we are talking about the removal of accumulated Soviet-era waste - abandoned heavy equipment, scrap metal and other large-sized waste, then for reasons beyond our control, shipping logistics was severely disrupted, and it became expensive and unprofitable to export these piles of metal. Therefore, such work had to either be subsidized, or ask for help from the business, or store the collected scrap metal, leaving it until better times and subsequent removal.
How exactly will this work be organized? This issue is still being worked out by the relevant departments and experts, and this information will be brought to our attention so that we can also plan our expeditions taking into account the new logistics for the removal of bulky waste. One thing is already clear today: the NSR is developing, this area is being paid close attention, and I have no doubt that the work carried out in this direction will give impetus to the development of all Arctic territories and not only.
What objects turned out to be the most difficult to clean during the two years of the project?
The most difficult are the most remote corners of the Arctic, primarily due to logistics. For example, Hayes Island, where volunteers were taken by ship, then by helicopter. As a rule, these are long expeditions for the most persistent volunteers of the project, both in terms of physical and psychological preparation. Cape Marre-Sale and work at an altitude of more than 1000 meters, when the Arctic volunteers had to climb the mountain for several hours to clear an abandoned communication station.
Cleaning in the Arctic directly depends on the weather. In Chukotka, in Yakutia, it is sharply changeable and sometimes it was even necessary to change the planned deployment.
Volunteers of the Clean Arctic project discovered that the abandoned ship "Dnepr" in the Tiksi village of the Yakutia Republic is polluting the Laptev Sea with oil products. You personally spoke in favor of the urgent disposal of the object. How dangerous is a ship leak?
Right now, used engine oil and other oil-containing products are flowing into the waters of the Laptev Sea. This is extremely detrimental to the fragile nature of the Arctic and can lead to a real environmental threat to the entire water area of the bay, where more than 4.5 thousand people live. Poisonous substances can also reach the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, we drew attention to the problem with the Dnepr and hope that, through the joint efforts of the regional and federal authorities, it will be possible to dispose of the vessel in the near future.
Why is it taking so long to dispose of it?
In my opinion, the root of the problem lies in our traditional mismanagement and hope for a Russian chance. Knowing about the problem, we expect that nothing will happen, and we can wait a little longer with its solution. Dismantling such a large ship from these latitudes is very difficult and expensive. Therefore, this process was constantly postponed. But the fate of the long-suffering vessel still had to be decided in 2025. Now, given the circumstances, the problem will have to be solved urgently, in an emergency mode.
The closed Nickel Plant continues to be liquidated in Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory. At what stage is work now?
The liquidation of the closed Nickel Plant is being carried out as part of the Clean Norilsk project, which was structurally included in the Clean Arctic project last year. Nornickel removed 480,000 tons of waste last year and cleared about 1.5 million square meters of land. I have no doubts that the work carried out and planned for this year will be 100% completed. The name of the project "Clean Norilsk" confirms that the partner of the "Clean Arctic" is making tremendous efforts and means to achieve the stated goals.
The Clean Arctic project is launched for the examination of aquatic ecosystems and soil in the areas of Arctic cleanups. What caused such a decision? How will the data obtained be used?
At the end in 2022, thanks to a partnership with Rosatom, we checked water bodies near the places of our cleaning: we took samples of water and land near the Clean Arctic locations. The results will be analyzed in dynamics, which allow us to evaluate our contribution in the overall environmental improvement in the territories of the Arctic regions.
For example, we examined springs in the Murmansk region - the water in them was poor quality and not suitable for drinking. In the near future we will publish information about such springs and ask you to refrain from using them.
In the third season of the Clean Arctic project, we will carry out such measurements before and after our expeditions, and we will also analyze the results.
What are the goals for the season in 2023?
This year, it was decided to expand the geography of locations and double the number of places for reconnaissance work. After surveying the territories, a list of locations for 2023 will be formed. A program for organizing expeditions to Svalbard is also being worked out. Another area of work, together with large companies, will be ecological trails as places of attraction for residents and guests of the Arctic regions.
In addition, work will continue in the direction of corporate volunteering, including the integration of environmental programs implemented in the Arctic to achieve maximum results.
How to become a member of the Arctic expedition? Is there any selection?
It is very simple - to apply by filling out the form on the official website of the project cleanarctic.ru. I will say right away that there are a lot of applicants, and every year, as the recognition of our project grows, there are more and more of them. Last year, volunteers from dozens of Russian regions and even foreign countries took part in them - a total of 3,000 volunteers. The selection is quite strict, in terms of health and physical data. At the same time, there are no age restrictions for Clean Arctic volunteers.
The participants of the "Clean Arctic" are not only a federal volunteer landing force, consisting of residents from various parts of the country. Half of the staff are local residents and representatives of environmental and volunteer organizations. I personally consider this organic synergy of volunteers to be very important.
Mr. Nagibin, what territory of the Arctic has already been cleared by the project volunteers and how much waste has been removed?
In the second season of the Clean Arctic project, which ended in October last year, we collected about 3,300 tons of waste in an area of over 230 hectares. In just two years, we have cleared about 340 hectares and removed almost five thousand tons of waste.
Why is there so much garbage in the Arctic if the population of the polar regions is small?
For decades, the attitude of man to the regions of the Far North was exclusively consumerist. Exploring the Arctic, we imported thousands of pieces of equipment, tons of fuel and lubricants, products and building materials, in general, everything that is needed for life and work in extreme conditions. Imported, used and left, accumulating a huge amount of waste. I myself, as a young navigator, participated in the so-called northern delivery. Even then, I was outraged by the fact that we always returned in ballast, that is, with empty holds. And we could consistently remove human waste from the Arctic as these spaces are developed. As a result, millions of tons of garbage have been accumulated. It's time to put things in order in the Arctic. And this task is being systematically solved today thanks to the synergy of responsible business, volunteers and the state.
What types of waste do volunteers collect?
First of all, everything that a person can remove without the use of heavy equipment is fallen trees, construction and household waste. When there is a technical possibility, we rake up piles of metal and abandoned buildings. The scrap metal is then sent for recycling. One of the best examples of last year was the scrapping of a rusty ship on the shores of the Kola Bay in Murmansk.
If a volunteer finds hazardous waste, including radioactive waste, what measures are taken?
Before organizing a volunteer expedition, a reconnaissance of the territories is mandatory. We must be sure that the waste that our volunteers will clean up is safe. This applies to a huge number of various barrels and other containers in which dangerous substances could be stored. Disposal of this kind of waste requires appropriate expertise and permits. I note that a team of technical support always works in a team with volunteers. It consists of specialists in assessing the degree of danger of certain wastes.
Is the goal of the project to get rid of only the "Soviet legacy" or to remove all the garbage, including the one that is currently accumulating?
We do not divide the garbage accumulated in the Arctic into old and new, into the one that we collect and the one that does not concern us. Of course, we remove everything. Paradoxical as it may seem, the main problem we face is Russian legislation. For example, by collecting waste in one place before taking it out, we create a conditional unauthorized dump. That is, by doing a good deed, volunteers formally break the law. The problem is indeed serious, it concerns all such volunteer activities to clean up territories in our country. At the first youth environmental forum held in Kamchatka, we were able to voice this problem and directly address the president with a request to protect such projects. We hope that our proposals will be worked out and the gaps in the legislation will be eliminated.
How is the garbage disposal process?
If this is some kind of abandoned equipment and other scrap metal, then it is brought to the port berths, cut into pieces, after which it is transported by barges and other transport vessels to the mainland for remelting. Now we are faced with the task of making it profitable for transport companies to remove waste from the Arctic regions. Together with the regional authorities, we are working on various options.
Alexei Chekunkov, the head of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East, said that the Northern Sea Route (NSR) would also be used to transport waste from the Arctic. Is it clear how this will happen?
Without the NSR, the project cannot be implemented in principle; there are no other options. If we are talking about the removal of accumulated Soviet-era waste - abandoned heavy equipment, scrap metal and other large-sized waste, then for reasons beyond our control, shipping logistics was severely disrupted, and it became expensive and unprofitable to export these piles of metal. Therefore, such work had to either be subsidized, or ask for help from the business, or store the collected scrap metal, leaving it until better times and subsequent removal.
How exactly will this work be organized? This issue is still being worked out by the relevant departments and experts, and this information will be brought to our attention so that we can also plan our expeditions taking into account the new logistics for the removal of bulky waste. One thing is already clear today: the NSR is developing, this area is being paid close attention, and I have no doubt that the work carried out in this direction will give impetus to the development of all Arctic territories and not only.
What objects turned out to be the most difficult to clean during the two years of the project?
The most difficult are the most remote corners of the Arctic, primarily due to logistics. For example, Hayes Island, where volunteers were taken by ship, then by helicopter. As a rule, these are long expeditions for the most persistent volunteers of the project, both in terms of physical and psychological preparation. Cape Marre-Sale and work at an altitude of more than 1000 meters, when the Arctic volunteers had to climb the mountain for several hours to clear an abandoned communication station.
Cleaning in the Arctic directly depends on the weather. In Chukotka, in Yakutia, it is sharply changeable and sometimes it was even necessary to change the planned deployment.
Volunteers of the Clean Arctic project discovered that the abandoned ship "Dnepr" in the Tiksi village of the Yakutia Republic is polluting the Laptev Sea with oil products. You personally spoke in favor of the urgent disposal of the object. How dangerous is a ship leak?
Right now, used engine oil and other oil-containing products are flowing into the waters of the Laptev Sea. This is extremely detrimental to the fragile nature of the Arctic and can lead to a real environmental threat to the entire water area of the bay, where more than 4.5 thousand people live. Poisonous substances can also reach the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, we drew attention to the problem with the Dnepr and hope that, through the joint efforts of the regional and federal authorities, it will be possible to dispose of the vessel in the near future.
Why is it taking so long to dispose of it?
In my opinion, the root of the problem lies in our traditional mismanagement and hope for a Russian chance. Knowing about the problem, we expect that nothing will happen, and we can wait a little longer with its solution. Dismantling such a large ship from these latitudes is very difficult and expensive. Therefore, this process was constantly postponed. But the fate of the long-suffering vessel still had to be decided in 2025. Now, given the circumstances, the problem will have to be solved urgently, in an emergency mode.
The closed Nickel Plant continues to be liquidated in Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory. At what stage is work now?
The liquidation of the closed Nickel Plant is being carried out as part of the Clean Norilsk project, which was structurally included in the Clean Arctic project last year. Nornickel removed 480,000 tons of waste last year and cleared about 1.5 million square meters of land. I have no doubts that the work carried out and planned for this year will be 100% completed. The name of the project "Clean Norilsk" confirms that the partner of the "Clean Arctic" is making tremendous efforts and means to achieve the stated goals.
The Clean Arctic project is launched for the examination of aquatic ecosystems and soil in the areas of Arctic cleanups. What caused such a decision? How will the data obtained be used?
At the end in 2022, thanks to a partnership with Rosatom, we checked water bodies near the places of our cleaning: we took samples of water and land near the Clean Arctic locations. The results will be analyzed in dynamics, which allow us to evaluate our contribution in the overall environmental improvement in the territories of the Arctic regions.
For example, we examined springs in the Murmansk region - the water in them was poor quality and not suitable for drinking. In the near future we will publish information about such springs and ask you to refrain from using them.
In the third season of the Clean Arctic project, we will carry out such measurements before and after our expeditions, and we will also analyze the results.
What are the goals for the season in 2023?
This year, it was decided to expand the geography of locations and double the number of places for reconnaissance work. After surveying the territories, a list of locations for 2023 will be formed. A program for organizing expeditions to Svalbard is also being worked out. Another area of work, together with large companies, will be ecological trails as places of attraction for residents and guests of the Arctic regions.
In addition, work will continue in the direction of corporate volunteering, including the integration of environmental programs implemented in the Arctic to achieve maximum results.
How to become a member of the Arctic expedition? Is there any selection?
It is very simple - to apply by filling out the form on the official website of the project cleanarctic.ru. I will say right away that there are a lot of applicants, and every year, as the recognition of our project grows, there are more and more of them. Last year, volunteers from dozens of Russian regions and even foreign countries took part in them - a total of 3,000 volunteers. The selection is quite strict, in terms of health and physical data. At the same time, there are no age restrictions for Clean Arctic volunteers.
The participants of the "Clean Arctic" are not only a federal volunteer landing force, consisting of residents from various parts of the country. Half of the staff are local residents and representatives of environmental and volunteer organizations. I personally consider this organic synergy of volunteers to be very important.
