University of
Hawaii, Dept. of Anthropology
Archaeology Labs
U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| 1. | All soil shipments must be in shipping containers that are sturdy, leak proof and impact resistant such as insulated plastic coolers or metal chests which will preclude spillage or pest escape in transit and while samples are awaiting processing. Plastic bags, cardboard or paper cartons as shipping containers are not acceptable. In addition, soil samples must be contained in plastic bags or containers prior to placement in shipping containers. All shipping containers must be labeled "SOIL SAMPLES" and must include a current copy of the Soil Permit. |
| 2. | Used shipping containers must be decontaminated by one of the treatments described below for sterilizing soil or destroyed by incineration. |
| 3. | Soil samples will not be reshipped to other laboratories unless such laboratories have a valid USDA Soils Permit to import foreign soil, or a valid compliance agreement for domestic soil. |
| 4. | All soil residues shall be treated with one of the schedules below: |
| a) Dry Heat | |
| Temperature Exposure Period (Do not start counting the time until the entire mass reaches the required temperature): |
| 110 - 120.5 degrees C | 230 - 249 degrees F | 16 hours | |
| 121 - 154 degrees C | 250 - 309 degrees F | 2 hours | |
| 154.5 - 192.5 degrees C | 310 - 379 degrees F | 30 minutes | |
| 193 - 220 degrees C | 380 - 429 degrees F | 4 minutes | |
| 221 - 232 degrees C | 430 - 450 degrees F | 2 minutes |
| or | |
| b) Steam Heat: 15 pounds pressure for 30 minutes at 250 degrees F. | |
| Individual packages of 5 pounds or less or, if in trays, the soil residues should not exceed 2 inches in depth. Do not start counting the time until the pressure reaches 15 pounds. | |
| or | |
| c) Any other procedure approved by the State Plant Health Director. | |
| 5. | Any water residues (effluent) from the processing of soil samples must be treated by one of the following approved schedules before discarding so as not to present a hazard of pest dissemination: |
| a) Domestic and Foreign: Boil the effluent for 1 minute; or | |
| b) Domestic only: Filter through a 100 mesh screen. The residues left in the filter should be burned | |
| 6. | When the laboratory has control over the collection of soil samples, they will inform the collectors that the equipment and handtools used for collecting soil samples in areas subject to Federal and/or State cooperative domestic plant quarantines will be thoroughly cleaned of all soil residues at the collection site. |
| 7. | Stockpiling of soil samples is not allowed. |
| This
page last updated: September 20, 2000 |