Emerald Ash Borer

The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the expansion of its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to include the entire states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, more than doubling the previously quarantined area which includes the entire lower peninsula of Michigan. The new quarantine becomes effective on Dec. 1 following the issuance of a federal order.

EAB is an invasive species wood boring beetle, native to China and eastern Asia, which targets ash trees. EAB probably arrived in North America hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer and other goods. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and has since been found in Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Illinois.

1)  Contact the USDA's Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Program (EAB) in your state to begin the process which will include a visit by the USDA to assure you are capable of fulfilling a compliance agreement.  If the inspector is confident your company can perform the terms of the treatment option, he or she will provide you with a compliance agreement.  Following are contact numbers for the program in each state:

Michigan    810-844-2705

Ohio         614-387-1095

Indiana     765-446-0267

Illinois       847-299-6939

2)  Treatment Options:

   - ISPM 15- Approved

   - 100% Bark-Free with an additional 1/2 of wood removed

   - Fumigation as per USDA treatment schedule

   - Kiln Drying as per USDA treatment schedule

   - Heat Treatment Scheduled as per USDA treatment schedule

3)  If you select the ISPM 15 treatment and marking option, USDA says the compliance agreement alone will satisfy the requirments.  If you choose any of the other treatment options, each shipment will need certification and inspection.   Currently, inspection and certification is done for each shipment by the agency, however USDA recognizes expansion of the regulation to three additional states will require additional flexibility and possibly selft-certification.

4) Under the Plant Protection Act of 2000, violations of a domestic quarantine may result in a monetary fine up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment.  While the regulation officially starts December 1st, enforcemenbt will take into account industry's readiness to meet new federal regulations.  Companies will likely receive written warnings in the early days with harsher penalties to follow as USDA deems an appropriate implementation time has been provided.  However, there is not official phase-in do not delay in implementing the requirements.

For more information see:  www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/11/eab_fed_order.shtml or http://www.nwpca.com/_INTLRegulations/Emerald%20Ash%20Borer.pdf