October 12, 2007

LANSING - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Donald Koivisto today announced an amendment to the state’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine to help prevent the further spread of the exotic insect in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.).

Effective immediately, Michigan’s EAB quarantine has been revised to include a 55-square mile area near the town of Moran in Mackinac County, where an EAB infestation in the U.P. was recently discovered. In 2005, an EAB infestation at Brimley State Park marked the first time EAB had been found in the U.P. The infestation was eradicated through removal of all ash host material in the area.

"Michigan’s natural resources are at risk," said Koivisto. "MDA staff is working to minimize the impact of EAB in the U.P. as much as possible. The current quarantine revision helps accomplish this goal by prohibiting the movement of ash material or hardwood firewood from quarantined areas in the U.P. or from the Lower 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 three to four years. First discovered in 2002, the borer
is responsible for the death or damage of approximately 20 million ash trees in the Lower Peninsula.

The movement of hardwood firewood is still prohibited from leaving the Lower Peninsula as it continues to be the leading cause of the spread of EAB. The inspection station at the Mackinac Bridge will also continue to prevent hardwood firewood and other regulated ash material from entering the Upper Peninsula.

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 are available at www.michigan.gov/eab or www.emeraldashborer.info.