PPQ Form 525A Application for Permit to Receive Soil

No permit can be issued to move soil until an application has been received (7 CFR 330).
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it
displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0579-0054. The time required to complete this information collection
is estimated to average .5 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed,
and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

OMB APPROVED
0579-0054
EXP XX/XXXX

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE - PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE

APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO RECEIVE SOIL
INSTRUCTIONS: SEE ATTACHED INSTRUCTION SHEET
NOTE: If you intend to isolate and/or culture live organisms (such as fungal plant pathogens or nematodes) from the soil, then you must hold a valid
plant permit based on PPQ Form 526. PPQ Form 525A cannot be used for this purpose. To apply for a plant pest permit, see our website at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/organism/index.shtml
1. Origin of shipment(s)
2. Method of Shipment
Air: (Specify)

Hawaii
Various Foreign Countries
One Country

Sea: (Specify)

Bond Courier
Hand-carry

(Specify)_______________________________

(Est. # Shipments
________)

Ground: (Specify)

Bond Courier
Hand-carry

(Est. # Shipments
________)

Bond Courier
Hand-carry

(Est. # Shipments
________)

Other (Specify)_______________________________
3. Method of packaging (Must be sturdy and leakproof; please describe.)
4. Port(s) of arrival desired (Specify)

5. Approximate date for arrival of first shipment

6. Quantity per shipment

3 lbs. or less (go to #6a)

over 3 lbs. (go to #7)

6a. Will heat sterilization at the port of arrival interfere with intended use?

Yes - Go to #7

6b. If no, check preferred treatment and then go to #10.

Steam Heat

Dry Heat

No - Go to #6b

NOTE: If you are importing over 3 lbs. of soil per shipment, or if you are importing 3 or less lbs. of soil per shipment and you answered "Yes" to
question 6a, then your facility must be inspected and approved to receive, handle, store, and dispose of the soil under the conditions of a compliance
agreement. Complete the rest of the form and submit it to the USDA/APHIS/PPQ/Permit Services, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD
20737. If you need further guidance in completing this form, please Contact Permit Services at (866) 524-5421 or access the website at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/sphd/ for a list of State Plant Health Offices.
7. Intended use (Please provide specific information.)
Chemical or physical analysis _______________________________________________________________________________________
As a growing medium for plants _____________________________________________________________________________________
For the isolation and/or culture of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) or Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) _______________________________________
Other __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Precautions to be used to safeguard soil samples (Please describe)

9. Method of Final Disposition
Autoclaving

Incineration

Hydroclave

EPA Approved Landfill

Other _________________________________________
NOTE: Please attach a detailed explanation if soil is to be moved or removed from the receiving facility without a sterilizing treatment.
10. Name and address of receiving facility
11. Applicant's Name (type or print clearly)

12. Signature and Date
Applicant's Phone (

)

Applicant's Fax (

)

E-mail Address _________________________________________
PPQ FORM 525A
MARCH 2010

Instructions for Completing Form 525A
Application for Permit to Receive Soil
NOTE: If you intend to isolate and/or culture live organisms (such as fungal plant pathogens or nematodes) from the soil, then you
must hold a valid plant pest permit based on PPQ Form 526. PPQ Form 525A cannot be used for this purpose. To apply for a plant
pest permit, see our website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/organism/index.shtml
Please TYPE or PRINT legibly. Complete every block except for blocks 4 and 5 which may be left blank if the information is
unknown.
1.

Indicate the origin of the soil shipment. If you check “one country,” enter the name of the country on the line provided.

2.

Indicate the method of shipment. If you want to hand-carry soil, check “Other” and enter on the line ‘hand carry.’ Hand
carried items must be approved with the port of entry before arrival.

3.

Briefly describe the packaging being used (i.e., Tupperware, cooler, etc.).

4.

Enter the city and State of the first port of arrival. If unknown leave blank.

5.

Enter the approximate or estimated date of arrival. If unknown leave blank.

6.

Indicate the weight of soil per shipment. If 3 or less lbs., continue to block 6a. If more than 3 lbs., continue to block 7.

6a. If you are importing 3 or less lbs. of soil per shipment, answer “Yes” or “No” if heat sterilization will interfere with the
intended use. If you answered “No” to 6a, the soil must be treated at a USDA Plant Inspection Station. Continue to
block 6b. If you answered “Yes” to question 6a, continue to block 7.
6b. Indicate the preferred method of sterilization, then skip to block 10.
7.

Indicate all that apply. If you intend to isolate and/or culture live organisms (such as plant pathogens or nematodes) from
the soil, then you are using the wrong form. See the note at the top of this form for instructions for the PPQ Form 526.
Selection of ‘Other’ includes landfill.

8.

Enter a brief description of the precautions to be used to prevent pest dissemination. If no pests exist, enter “N/A.”

9.

Indicate the method of final disposition. Selection of “Other” may include landfill. Please attach a detailed explanation if
soil is to be moved or removed from the receiving facility without a sterilizing treatment. All attachments must have a
company name, a contact name, and Form 525A typed or printed at the top of each page.

10. Enter the name, address, and phone number of the receiving facility. Enter the applicant’s telephone and facsimile numbers,
including the Area Code.
11. Enter the applicant’s name; this should be the person directly responsible for the soil received by the facility.
12. Enter signature of applicant and the date.
Forwarding Instructions:
- If you are importing over 3 lbs. of soil per shipment, or if you are importing 3 or less lbs. of soil per shipment and you answered
“Yes” to question 6a, then your facility must be inspected and approved to receive, handle, store, and dispose of the soil under the
conditions of a compliance agreement. Complete the rest of the form and submit it to the State Plant Health Director of the State of
destination. Contact USDA/APHIS/PPQ/Permit Services at (301) 734-5519 or access the website at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/services/report_pest_disease/report_pest_disease.shtml for a list of State Plant Health Offices.
- If you are importing 3 or less lbs. of soil per shipment and you answered “No” in block 6a, then the soil must be treated at the port
of arrival. Send the completed application by facsimile to Area Code (301) 734-5786 or by mail to:
USDA/APHIS/PPQ/Permit Unit, 4700 River Road, Unit 136, Riverdale, MD 20737.
Please call 1-877-770-5990 if you have any questions.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Authority: The Honeybee Act, 7 U.S.C. 281-286; the Plant Protection Act, 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; and the
Animal Health Protection Act, 7 U.S.C. 8301-8321.
Purpose: This data will be used to enable persons wishing to move a regulated commodity into, from, or within the
United States to apply for a permit, pay permit application fees, check the status of a permit application, and view issued
permits and other information online in a secure manner.
Routine Uses:
In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a (b) of the Privacy Act, records maintained in the
system may be disclosed outside USDA as follows:
1. To the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection agency, which inspects shipments that
arrive at United States ports for compliance with permit conditions;
2. To cooperative Federal, State, and local government officials, employees, or contractors, and other parties engaged to
assist in administering the program. Such contractors and other parties will be bound by the nondisclosure provisions of
the Privacy Act. This routine use assists the agency in carrying out the program, and thus is compatible with the purpose
for which the records are created and maintained;
3. To State government regulatory officials in the State of destination for review and comment;
4. To the appropriate agency, whether Federal, State, local, or foreign, charged with responsibility of investigating or
prosecuting a violation of law or of enforcing, implementing, or complying with a statute, rule, regulation, or order issued
pursuant thereto, of any record within this system when information available indicates a violation or potential violation of
law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature, and either arising by general statute or particular program statute, or by
rule, regulation, or court order issued pursuant thereto;
5. To the Department of Justice when the agency, or any component thereof, or any employee of the agency in his or her
official capacity, or any employee of the agency in his or her individual capacity where the Department of Justice has
agreed to represent the employee, or the United States, in litigation, where the agency determines that litigation is likely to
affect the agency or any of its components, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such
records by the Department of Justice is deemed by the agency to be relevant and necessary to the litigation; provided,
however, that in each case, the agency determines that disclosure of the records to the Department of Justice is a use of
the information contained in the records that is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected;
6. For use in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body before which the agency is authorized to appear, when the
agency, or any component thereof, or any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity, or any employee of the
agency in his or her individual capacity where the agency has agreed to represent the employee, or the United States,
where the agency determines that litigation is likely to affect the agency or any of its components, is a party to litigation or
has an interest in such litigation, and the agency determines that use of such records is relevant and necessary to the
litigation; provided, however, that in each case, the agency determines that disclosure of the records to the court is a use
of the information contained in the records that is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected;
7. To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when the agency suspects or has confirmed that the security or
confidentiality of information in the system of records has been compromised; the agency has determined that as a result
of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property interests, a risk of identity theft
or fraud, or a risk of harm to the security or integrity of this system or other systems or programs (whether maintained by
the agency or another agency or entity) that rely upon the compromised information; and the disclosure made to such
agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the agency's efforts to respond to the
suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm;
8. To USDA contractors, partner agency employees or contractors, or private industry employed to identify patterns,
trends or anomalies indicative of fraud, waste, or abuse; and
9. To the National Archives and Records Administration or to the General Services Administration for records
management inspections conducted under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary; however, failure to furnish this information may impede the ability to
apply for a permit.