Introduction
Institute of Environmental Geoscience of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEG RAS) was organized in 1996 on the basis of the Engineering Geological and Geoenvironmental Scientific Center RAS, Scientific Engineering and Coordinating Seismological Center RAS and the Complex Laboratory of Hydrogeology and Nature Protection Technologies (St. Petersburg). IEG RAS represents the staff of skilled experts in geology, including one full member and one corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Dr. Sci. and 43 Cand. Sci. The institute carries out fundamental and applied research in environmental geosience, engineering geology, hydrogeology, and seismology; and coordinates these studies within the scope of federal, academic, and municipal programs.