Michigan expands emerald ash borer quarantine

NEWS RELEASE

JASON ALLEN MICHIGAN STATE SENATOR 37TH DISTRICT

************************* Michigan revises Emerald Ash Borer quarantine to include entire Lower Peninsula

LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) revised its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to consolidate all 68 contiguous counties of the Lower Peninsula into one quarantine level - effective immediately.

The MDA is asking travelers not to move firewood to help prevent the artificial spread of other exotic and devastating insects like gypsy moth.

The ban on moving firewood across the Mackinac Bridge remains in effect.

The EAB 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 - ultimately killing the trees in three to four years.

First discovered in 2002, the borer is responsible for the death or damage of approximately 35 million ash trees in the Lower Pennisula.

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, quarantine details, and a map of the quarantine boundaries are available by clicking here or visiting EmeraldAshBorer.info.

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