APS Protocol for Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Foreign Soil and Regulated Domestic Soil

Arrival of New Samples:

  1. Unpack shipping containers. Treat any ice/melted water immediately.  Decontaminate any "blue ice" packets with 70% ethyl alcohol.
  2. Collect any loose soil from container and heat-treat immediately.
  3. Immediately decontaminate shipping containers.
    • Heat-treat wooden, metal, or cardboard shipping containers (using lowest heat).
    • Treat plastic containers and coolers with 70% ethyl alcohol.

Storage of Samples:

  1. Store dry samples in the locked storage cabinet in Room 437 C002 until they can be delivered to the appropriate beamline for analysis.  Label containers with origin and arrival date.
  2. Log samples into the APS Soil Inventory book maintained in 437 C002.
  3. Untreated samples can be stored for up to 6 months from date of arrival.
  4. Samples delivered to the beamlines must be kept in locked storage at the beamline.  Log the sample delivery to the beamline in the logbook.
Treatment of Water Effluent and Ice (Melted) Used for Shipping
  • Foreign and Domestic Soil:  Boil for one minute.
  • Domestic Soil Only:  Filter through 100 mesh sieve and heat-treat residues caught on sieve.
Alcohol Decontamination
  • Spray generously with 70% ethyl alcohol to the point of runoff.
  • Drain alcohol into sink and flush sink with water.
  • Air dry item being decontaminated.

Sample Handling:

  1. Collect all soil spilled on lab benches, equipment, stools, and the floor immediately and notify the APS Soil Custodian to collect the spilled soil for heat treatment.  After collection of the spilled soil, decontaminate fixed surfaces with 70% ethyl alcohol.
  2. Heat-treat all solid soil residues remaining after analysis that will be shipped back to the user's home institution as non-regulated soil using the oven in Room 437 C002. Heat treatment will be carried out by Liz Schmidt ([email protected]) or Matt Spilker (mspilker@anl.gov).
  3. Treat all water residues from analysis as described in the box above.
  4. Decontaminate all heat resistant materials and equipment used in the processing and analysis of soils (e.g. glassware, polypropylene bottles, aluminum weight boats, spatulas, kraft paper, etc.) according to the heat treatment schedule. Treat plastic bags and other non-heat-resistant materials with 70% alcohol.

Heat Treatment Procedures

Dry Heat Schedule

 Steam Heat
Temperature (C) Exposure Timea
110-120.5
121-154
154.4-192.5
193-220
221-232		 16 hours
2 hours
30 minutes
4 minutes
2 minutes		 121 C at 15 inches pressure for 30 minutes in packages <= 5 lbs or trays with soil residues < 2 inches deep
a Start counting time after entire mass reaches the required temperature.
Shipment of Untreated Samples to Other Laboratories for Analysis
  1. Obtain written permission from the local USDA PPQ Office and ship only to laboratories with a valid permit and compliance agreement for imported soil or a valid compliance agreement for domestic soil (see Liz Schmidt for further information).
  2. Ship soil double-bagged in sealed containers according to the Soil Permit shipping requirements.
Disposal of Samples and Residues or for Shipping as Non-regulated Soil
  1. After heat treatment, soil samples and solid soil residues may be disposed or shipped/returned to another laboratory in the same manner as unregulated domestic soil.
  2. After treatment of water residues, they can be disposed of in the same manner as residues from unregulated domestic soil.
APS Protocol for Sample Transport of Foreign Soil and Regulated Domestic Soil
  1. Double bag all samples (to reduce the chance of spillage in the event of breakage of the primary container) and place in sturdy leak-proof containers, such as insulated plastic coolers, for transport to Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).
  2. If samples are field moist, try to use "blue ice" instead of ice to keep samples cool during transport.
  3. Include a copy of the current  APS USDA Soil Permit in the container.  Contact Liz Schmidt to obtain a copy of the permit.
  4. Seal containers with duct tape or similar tape to preclude spillage or pest escape during transit.
  5. Packages of regulated soil must be identified as such by using a USDA PPQ Form 550 label that is barcoded and numbered.  Labels can be obtained by contacting Liz Schmidt. The USDA PPQ Form 550 label is NOT a shipping label.  The package must be shipped by bonded carrier (i.e. FedEx, etc.) from the port of arrival to Liz Schmidt at Argonne National Laboratory.  NOTE: Please contact the APS far enough in advance to receive the required USDA PPQ Form 550 label. The USDA requires an original of the label be affixed to the exterior of the package.
  6. If carrying samples through Customs, declare samples on the Customs form as "Soil".

Last Reviewed and Modified: June 28, 2022