November 2, 2005, Lansing, MI - 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 pest. Effective
immediately, Michigan’s EAB quarantine has been revised to include the recent
discovery of an infestation in the Upper Peninsula, the county of Sanilac, and
other outlying areas.
"Michigan continues to implement an approach within available
resources to respond to this devastating pest," said Irwin. "Curbing the spread
of EAB and protecting the ash resource in Michigan hinges on a stable federal
funding commitment."
The revised quarantine also provides MDA increased control over
the movement of commercial firewood within the EAB regulated area of the Lower
Peninsula. Any firewood intended for commercial sale must be accompanied by
have a bill of lading or other shipping document indicating the origin and destination
of the firewood.
"Our ability to regulate the movement of firewood in the Lower
Peninsula is crucial to preventing the artificial spread of EAB into other areas
of Michigan and surrounding states," said Patricia Lockwood, EAB policy director
for Governor Jennifer Granholm. "It’s imperative citizens comply with
the state’s quarantine and stop transporting firewood if we are to be
successful in this battle against the beetle."
Individuals or businesses found violating the state’s
EAB quarantine (21 counties in Southeast Michigan and 31 outlying infestations)
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.
Portions of the following townships and cities are now part
of the state’s EAB quarantine. Exact quarantine boundaries will be available
online at www.michigan.gov/eab.
- Alcona County –
Greenbush Township
- Barry County –
Carlton, Woodland, and Irving Townships
- Benzie County –
Almira, Homestead, Inland, and Platte Townships
- Berrien County –
parts of the cities of Benton Harbor, Bridgman and St. Joseph, Chickaming,
- Lincoln, Royalton, St.
Joseph, Benton and Weesaw Townships
- Cheboygan County - City
of Cheboygan, Benton and Inverness Townships
- Chippewa County –
Bay Mills and Superior Townships
- Huron County –
Caseville and Lake Townships
- Ionia County - Campbell
and Odessa Townships
- Iosco County –
City of East Tawas and Baldwin and Plainfield Tonships
- Kalamazoo County - Wakeshma
Township
- Kent County - Bowne
Township
- Mason County –
Hamlin Township
- Montcalm County - Richland
and Home Townships
- Montmorency County –
Montmorency and Hillman Townships
- Oceana County - Golden
and Benona Townships
- Ogemaw County - Hill
Township
- Presque Isle - Krakow
and Posen Townships
- Roscommon County - Backus,
Higgins, and Richfield Townships
- Sanilac – the
entire county
- St. Joseph County -
Leonidas Township
- Van Buren County - all
of the City of Hartford and City of Watervliet and Bangor, Covert, and Hartford
and Watervliet Townships
EAB is an exotic, aggressive
beetle putting state’s 700 million ash trees at risk of extinction and
has already been responsible for the death of approximately 15 million of Michigan’s
ash trees. For more information about EAB, please visit one of these Web sites:
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.
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