Environmental research for Horonobe Underground Research Project (Contract research)

Ichiyasu, Kenji; Ueda, Noritaka*; Ito, Takahisa*; Nakadate, Fumiyuki*; Yamakoshi, Chizuru*

Since a development scale of Horonobe Underground Research Project is small, this research would permit under the Environmental Impact Assessment Low and the Basic Environment Ordinance of Hokkaido Prefecture. However, because of consideration of recent general social trends, environmental monitoring research was carried out to know this influence. Noise and vibration measurement was conducted at four points around the research area. Water quality measurement was conducted at two points. Fisheries research was conducted throughout the river. Plant community research according to the Blaun-Blanquet technique (1964) was conducted at two points in the area where rectangular divisions (quadrate) were set. And also, growing condition survey on Hai-dojoh-tsunagi was conducted. This Hai-dojoh-tsunagi is regarded as endangered species in Hokkaido, had been transplanted as an environment protection measure in 2003. In addition, the research places and the methods were made to be the same as that of the past (2004 and 2005) researches. From these results, the influence on the environment after construction and the progress after conduction of measure for protecting environment were checked. Consequently, the influence of construction was not found at present time. Therefore the measure was judged enough to protect environment. After this construction, the environmental monitoring research should be carrying out to check the influence and it would be necessary to conduct the quick and suitable measure to avoid or mitigate the influence.