NEWS RELEASE l Ohio Department of Agriculture
Governor Bob Taft Lieutenant Governor Jennette B. Bradley Director Fred L. Dailey		Communications Office 8995 East Main Street • Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Phone: 614-752-9817 • Fax 614-466-7754 ODA URL: www.ohioagriculture.gov • e-mail: agri@agri.ohio.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 27, 2004

Media Contact: Melanie Wilt, ODA Communications, 614-752-9811

Ohio Ag Department Expands Regulated Areas in Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

State Agencies Ask Holiday Travelers to Heed Warnings

REYNOLDSBURG – Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey today announced new regulated areas as part of an existing state quarantine to prevent the further spread of Emerald Ash Borer ( Agrilus planipennis ), a destructive exotic pest from Asia. The quarantine now restricts residents from moving any ash trees, branches, firewood, or wood chips into or from the following areas in Lucas County: Swanton Township, Springfield Township west of Crissy Rd., and Monclova Township west of Weckerly Rd.

Violators of the quarantine could be fined up to $4,000.

“Residents must become part of the solution and obey quarantines to keep ash trees in our neighborhoods,” Dailey said. “Citizens who plan to travel and camp this weekend should not move firewood out of regulated areas.”

Though ash firewood is the only firewood named in the quarantine, Dailey is asking every citizen to refrain from moving unidentified firewood, because it could inadvertently worsen the problem.

All major state park campgrounds have firewood for sale, so there is no need to transport firewood when leaving home for a camping trip, according to Ohio State Park officials.

In September 2003, Governor Bob Taft authorized a state quarantine and gave the Director of Agriculture the authority to update it to prevent the spread of Emerald Ash Borer. Also, the quarantine prohibits any ash tree items from Michigan from being shipped into Ohio. Until now, Hicksville Township in Defiance County was the only Ohio area named in the quarantine.

Emerald Ash Borer has led to the destruction of about 30,000 ash trees in four Ohio counties since it was first spotted in Lucas County in February 2003. This week, two infested trees were spotted: one in Fulton County, and one in Lucas County in the Maumee State Forest. It appears the sightings may be part of one large infestation. ODA and State Forest officials are conducting surveys in the area to determine the extent of the infestation.

Residents are asked to check the health of their ash trees by using the symptom checklist found at www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab.stm and to report signs of the pest to the Emerald Ash Borer Help Line at 888-OHIO-EAB.

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Note to Editor: For additional background information, go to www.ohioagriculture.gov and click on “Emerald Ash Borer” and “News/Fact Sheets.”