FACT SHEET 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 4, 2005

 

Facts About Ohio’s Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

 

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has quarantined the state of Michigan and parts of northwest Ohio to halt the artificial spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an exotic insect from Asia. The quarantine supplements the department’s actions to eradicate EAB from Ohio and contain it in Michigan, where it has already killed millions of native ash trees.

 

EAB is a death sentence for ash trees, killing them within three to five years of infestation. The larvae feed on the cambium layer, the tree’s live tissue just beneath the bark. This cuts off the tree’s nutrients and water and essentially starves the tree to death. Larvae overwinter beneath the bark and can be inadvertently transported via firewood, logs, or nursery stock – the sources of most of Ohio’s infestations.

 

State Quarantine to Contain the Pest

 

Governor Bob Taft signed an Executive Order on September 16, 2003, authorizing a quarantine to prevent the spread of EAB. Citizens must comply with certain restrictions regarding the movement of wood out of these quarantined areas:

 

Regulated Articles Cannot Leave Quarantined Areas

 

ODA, with assistance from USDA officials, is enforcing EAB regulations to halt the movement of ash-tree materials and firewood. The following regulated articles are subject to the quarantine established in rule 901:5-56-02:

 

 

These regulated articles can move into and within a quarantined area but cannot leave under penalty of law. No regulated articles can be carried from Michigan into Ohio. Violators face fines of up to $4,000.

 

Currently, there are four accepted treatments that allow safe movement of these regulated articles:

 

Compliance Agreements Required to Move Regulated Articles

 

Regulated articles are prohibited from leaving quarantined areas without a compliance agreement with ODA and USDA. Compliance agreements are issued primarily to help utilize ash logs and ensure that the bark and outer inch of sapwood are removed and destroyed to kill any larvae.

 

Between October 1 and April 1, when the Emerald Ash Borer is not in flight, compliance agreements can be issued to allow movement of whole logs for processing at an approved sawmill. In an eradication zone, firewood sometimes may be kept under the terms of a signed agreement, for use before April 15. If conditions of the compliance agreement are violated, penalties will be levied.

 

State and federal officials are working with residents and businesses in quarantined areas to get compliance agreements in place, which allows the safe utilization of ash wood. Interested parties should contact USDA officials, 1-866-325-0023; or ODA officials, 1-888-OHIO-EAB.

 

Federal and Other State Quarantines

 

In addition to Ohio’s quarantine, citizens need to be aware of and abide by other federal and state EAB quarantines. Federal EAB quarantines prohibit the movement of ash tree materials and firewood out of Ohio’s quarantined areas. Fines for violating USDA’s quarantine are steeper than Ohio’s. Information on USDA, Michigan, and Indiana quarantines can be found at www.emeraldashborer.info.

 

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Media Contact: Melissa Brewer, EAB Communications, 614.728.6404