December 5, 2006

LANSING - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Mitch Irwin today announced an amendment of the state’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine to prevent the further spread of the exotic insect and keep the Upper Peninsula free of EAB. Effective immediately, Michigan’s EAB quarantine has been revised to include two levels in the Lower Peninsula. The two-level quarantine maintains the existing 21-county quarantined area of Southeast Michigan as Level I and the balance of the Lower Peninsula as Level II. Level I represents that area of the state that is generally infested with EAB and Level II has scattered but isolated infestations.

"Michigan’s natural resources are at risk," said Irwin. "We want to minimize the impact of EAB across the state as much as possible. We think the two-level quarantine will help us accomplish this goal by not allowing the movement of ash materials or hardwood firewood from the quarantined area of Southeast Michigan to any other area of the Lower Peninsula or the movement of any ash material or hardwood firewood out of the Lower Peninsula."

The movement of hardwood firewood is still prohibited from leaving quarantined areas, and remains to be the leading cause of the spread of EAB. Firewood can also vector other destructive pests such as Asian long-horned beetle, oak wilt and beech bark disease.

"Our ability to regulate the movement of hardwood firewood in the Lower Peninsula is crucial to preventing the artificial spread of EAB into other areas of Michigan and surrounding states," said Ken Rauscher, Director of the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. "It’s imperative citizens comply with the state’s quarantine and not transport firewood if we are to be successful."

Individuals or businesses found violating the state’s EAB quarantine are subject to fines ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years for moving regulated ash materials, including firewood.

Additional information about EAB, and a map of the quarantine boundaries will be available online at www.michigan.gov/eab or www.emeraldashborer.info. You may also contact your regional MDA office, or your local Michigan State University Extension or conservation district office.