May 18, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today proclaimed the week of May 20, 2007 as "Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week" throughout Michigan to increase public awareness about EAB and the collective effort underway to prevent its spread.

"With the summer season of travel and tourism right around the corner, now is the time to highlight ways we can work together to preserve and protect our treasured resources for future generations," Granholm said. "The most important role we can all play is to not move firewood as we head off to our favorite vacation destination."

The proclamation highlights the importance of the continued cooperation and support of citizens, tourists, communities, government and industry partners necessary for containing the pest and protecting the millions of ash trees blanketing North America.

During the week and throughout the year, Michigan residents and visitors should learn about EAB and adhere to the state’s quarantine banning the transport of ash trees, ash materials and all hardwood firewood from quarantined areas.

"Since its discovery in 2002, Emerald Ash Borer has caused significant economic and environmental damage to Michigan’s natural resources," said Ken Rauscher, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. "This year, there are at least eight other
states joining Michigan to help bring national attention to the devastating effects this pest causes."

Other participating states include: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maryland, and Virginia.

Throughout EAB Awareness Week, the following activities will take place:

• Firewood checkpoints will operate at key rest areas. Firewood will be inspected and EAB educational materials will be distributed. Any
  hardwood firewood coming from a quarantined area or showing signs of infestation will be confiscated and properly disposed of.
  
  
• Billboards along key travel corridors heading north remind travelers to not move firewood.
  
• The inspection station at the Mackinac Bridge will be staffed by MDA to help prevent regulated articles from entering the Upper
  Peninsula.

Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic insect native to Asia that attacks ash trees In its larval stage, EAB feeds undetected under the bark of ash trees, disrupting water and nutrient flow, and ultimately killing the trees in just a few years. First discovered in 2002, the borer is responsible for the death or damage of approximately 20 million ash trees in Michigan.

Quarantine violators face fines/penalties ranging from $1,000 up to $250,000 and face up to five years in jail if found guilty of transporting hardwood firewood out of the quarantine area or Lower Peninsula into the Upper Peninsula or surrounding states.

For more information on the Michigan EAB quarantine, please visit www.michigan.gov/eab or www.emeraldashborer.info

Read the official EAB proclamation here.