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Organization

• Director General
• Deputy Director General
• Planning and General Affairs Department
  Planning and General Affairs Department deals with general affairs, financial affairs and personnel affairs, and plans various projects, which are carried out by coordination with other departments of our institute, other public research organizations and universities. The Environmental Information Library has been established, to complete with various books and data which are utilized for reference as we conduct research works. This library is open to the general public, promoting the environmental assessment systems. In order to inform the general public about environmental concerns, Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences publishes an news letter, entitled "Ekorobu Hokkaido (Ecology of Hokkaido)" in addition to publishing an annual report on our research works. To publicize the services of our institute, we hold report meetings and environmental panel exhibitions, and send lecturers to various seminars on environmental protection
• General Affairs Section
  General and financial affairs.
• Planning and Coordination Section
  Planning and coordination of projects, collection and provision of environment-related information, international cooperation
• Environmental GIS Section
  Research on environmental conservation, planning and management using Geographic Information System (GIS) 
• Environmental Protection Department
  Environmental Protection Department, in accordance with the Air and the Water Pollution Control Laws, monitors ambient air and water for public use, including rivers, oceans and underground water. To control emissions of pollutants from stationary sources, we are inspecting factories and workshops, the main sources of air and water pollution. Also, we are providing technical guidance to reduce amount of pollutants emitted. We are also examining the causes of failures to meet the environmental standard and studying the causes of pollution in rivers and coastal waters. Furthermore, we are doing researches regarding air quality in background areas and regarding the greenhouse effect gases.
• Air Environment Section
  Elucidation of air pollution mechanisms, monitoring and research on acid rain, greenhouse gases and other pollutants such as offensive odor.  Acid Rain
• Water Environment Section
  Research on pollution sources in rivers, coastal water and underground water, and on their conservation measures.
• Technical Guidance Section
  Monitoring and research on the effects of pollutants on the environment, and on the reduction measures of such pollutants .
• Chemical Substance 1st Section
  Monitoring and research on the environmental residual toxicity of the chemical substance.
• Chemical Substance 2nd Section
  Monitoring and research on the countermeasures against the pollution caused by chemical substance.
• Environmental Studies Department
  When a value judgement to the environment by people has been diversifying, they are concerning to comfortable environment and its pollutant on a global scale. In this department, we research effects of freron gases to global environment, an environmental pollution by hazardous chemicals used in hightechnological industries, agricultural chemicals used in a golf course, and a protection of lake water environment. We also study estimation methods of noise and vibration caused by airplane, train, and car, and creation of comfortable environment for people from a view-point of sound effect.
• Environmental Chemistry Section
  Resarch on the effects of chemical substances (pesticides etc.) in the environment.
• Regional Environment Section
  Protection of regional water environments, (for lakes), and survey of aquatic biological indices.
• Environmental Engineering Section
  Research on the impact on the life environment of noise and vibration from the transportation facilities and industries.
• Nature Conservation Department
  Hokkaido is blessed with an abundant natural environment, represented by forests of the Northern Regions, marshlands, coastal vegetation, and wildlife such as brown bears and Sika deer. Of these flora and fauna, some are decreasing in number and others are in danger of extinction. In order to protect the diversity of these flora and fauna, we must conserve and manage them properly. Nature Conservation Department is seeking appropriate methods of environmental protection and control in terms of integrated conservation of natural environments, while carrying out research on habitats, populations, and the ecology of wild animals and plants.
• Natural Environment Conservation Section
  Research regarding conservation and management of natural environments.
• Botanical Environment Section
  Research regarding the ecology and distribution of plants, and management their habitats.
• Wildlife Section
  Research regarding ecology and distribution, conservation and management of wildlife.
• Eastern Hokkaido Area Wildlife Research Office
  Research regarding ecology and distribution of wildlife.
• Southern Hokkaido Area Wildlife Research Office
  Research regarding ecology and distribution of wildlife.

History

April 1970

Hokkaido Research Institute for Environmental Pollution established as a branch office of Hokkaido Planning Department, began work in Hokkaido Prefectural Hygienic Institute building. Since then, it has carried out research, monitoring and measurement of pollution in Hokkaido, and provided technical guidance.

December 1971

New office building was completed.

April 1972

In accordance with administrative and organizational reform, the institute began to function as a branch office of Life and Environment Department (promoted from the former Environment Bureau, Planning Department).

August 1978

In accordance with organizational reform, General Affairs Department was established with General Affairs and Planning Section attached.

January 1979

To file, manage and provide the general public, Environmental Information Library established.

May 1979

Vice Director staffed.

May 1982

In accordance with organizational reform, three sections were established at both Air Environment and Water Environment Departments.

May 1986

Senior researchers staffed at Air Environment and Water Environment Departments.

April 1988

In accordance with organizational reform, the institute changed to a branch office of Health and Environment Department.

May 1991

In accordance with organizational reform, Institute renamed Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences. Former Air Environmental Department and former Water Environmental Department were reformed to Environmental Protection Department and Environmental Studies Department. Each department had three sections. Two sections of General Affairs Department were named General Affairs Section and Planning and Coodinating Section, and Nature Conservation Department was newly established with two sections attached.

April 1993

In accordance with organization reform, Natural Environmental Conservation Section was established at Nature Conservation Department.

April 1994

In accordance with organizational reform, Chemical Pollution Section was established at Environmental Protection Department.

June 1997

In accordance with organizational reform, the institute changed to a branch office of Environment and Life Department. Eastern Hokkaido Wildlife Research Station was attaced to Nature Conservation Department.

April 1998

In accordance with organizational reform, Southern Hokkaido Wildlife Research Station was attaced to Nature Conservation Department.